Smith Comes Up Clutch as Women's Basketball Outlasts USMMA in OT Thriller

Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Patchogue, NY| Rynese Smith tallied six points in the final 10 seconds of regulation as the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's basketball team earned a gutsy 56-55 victory over the United State Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) inside the Danzi Center on Thursday evening. With the win, the Golden Eagles win back-to-back games for the first time in three years and improve to 5-10 (2-4 Skyline) on the year. The Mariners slide to 5-8 (0-6 Landmark).

USMMA opened the game with a 11-1 run through the first five minutes of the first quarter, but sophomore Andrea Iavarone pulled SJC to within within five (11-7) at the 3:33 mark. The two teams traded baskets until the end of the quarter, with USMMA maintaining a 18-11 lead. USMMA got the scoring started in the seventh minute of the second quarter to extend its lead before cruising into halftime up 30-20.

The Golden Eagles started to close the gap in the third quarter after a made layup from Iavarone at the 5:05 mark drew the score back to 36-30. After baskets were traded by both parties, Smith closed out the period with a pair of free throws to cut the Golden Eagles deficit to one (39-38).

In the fourth, the Mariners looked to pull away with five points to build a 44-38 lead at the 5:16 mark. After the Golden Eagles rallied to get back, USMMA's Sam Drake knocked down the a pair of free throws increase USMMA's lead (46-42) with 44 seconds to play. SJC's Smith cut the deficit to one point with 10 seconds remaining, and a foul by forward Danielle Gehring put Kelsey Hoffman on the free throw line. Hofmann sank both free throws to give USMMAA a 48-45 lead, but on the inbound, Caroline Gehring fed the ball to an open Smith, who sank a game-tying (48-48) three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

Caroline Gehring opened scoring in the extra frame with a three-ball at 3:51, but USMMA responded and rallied to build a 55-52 lead with 55 seconds left in overtime. Iavarone scored off a layup with 31 seconds left to again bring the game to within one (55-54). USMMA then assumed possession, but freshman Asia Rountree caused a turnover and fed Iavarone, who would finish off a fastbreak layup to lift the Golden Eagles to a 56-55 win.

Iavarone had a game-high 19 points and a team-best 12 rebounds to record her 10th double-double of the season. The sophomore was also credited with four blocks. Smith tallied 13 points, going 5-6 from the charity stripe, and grabbed seven boards.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday, January 16 when they travel to Newburg, NY to face Mount Saint Mary College at 3:00 PM. Live stats will be available here on sjcgoldeneagles.com.