Posted: Jan 17, 2017

Women's Basketball Outlasts USMMA 56-55 in Tuesday Night Thriller

Merchant Marine

(8-6 (4-5))

St. Joseph's (L.I.)

(5-11 (4-6))

Final

Merchant Marine (8-6 (4-5))

St. Joseph's (L.I.) (5-11 (4-6))

Game Leaders

Merchant Marine

Pts: Kaleigh D'Arcy - 15

Reb: Shelby Peters - 9

Ast: Shelby Peters - 5

St. Joseph's (L.I.)

Pts: Andrea Iavarone - 20

Reb: Andrea Iavarone - 12

Ast: Jackie Zizzo - 3

Team Stats

Merchant Marine

St. Joseph's (L.I.)

Field Goals

(25-67)

(18-51)

Field Goal %

37.3%

35.3%

Rebounds

Assists

Turnovers

Pts off Turnovers

2nd Chance Pts

Pts in the Paint

Fastbreak Pts

Bench Pts

Full stats

Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Patchogue, NY | Andrea Iavarone sank in two free throws in the final seconds of regulation as the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's basketball team earned a gutsy 56-55 victory over the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a Skyline Conference showdown on Tuesday night inside the Danzi Center. With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 5-11 (4-6 Skyline) while the Mariners slip to 8-6 (4-5).

The Mariners began the final quarter with a made jumper to put them ahead 43-35, Jackie Zizzo would then answer back with a three-pointer to jumpstart an 11-4 run for the Golden Eagles. Down 53-50 with a minute to go in regulation, Juliana Cintron-Leonardo fed a pass to Alicia Indence and drained the three-point basket to tie up the game 54-54, and a Michelle Lupoli free throw gave St. Joseph's a 67-65 lead. USMMA assumed possession and Kelsey Hofmann reeled off a two-point basket to the retake a one-point lead (55-54). With 10 seconds remaining, Iavarone received the inbounding ball and drove to the paint earning a trip to the charity stripe, where she would make the pair of free throws giving the Golden Eagles the 56-55 victory.

St. Joseph's started the game with a pair of made free throws courtesy of Cintron-Leonardo. Down 10-2 at 4:28, an Indence basket brought the Golden Eagles within six, but USMMA would close out the quarter with a 14-6 lead.

The two teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle to start the second frame, the Mariners sparked a short 5-0 with 5:25 to play to increase their lead by 11 (23-12). After a Samantha Wedderburn layup, USMMA answered back with six straight baskets for to take a 15-point advantage (29-14). With a minute left the Golden Eagles closed out the first half with a 4-0 run to close their deficit by 11.

SJC began the third quarter with an 11-2 run to cut its deficit to three (31-29) at 3:42, but the Mariners would come back with six points to extend their lead again to eight (37-29). The two sides would trade baskets as USSMA exited the frame with a 41-35 lead.

Iavarone finished with a game-high 20 points, 12 rebounds, and dished out two assists in the contest. Indence shot 3-5 from three and recorded 18 points, an assist, and one steal.

The Golden Eagles shot just 35.3% from the field compared to the Mariners' 37.3%. USMMA also held advantage assists (17-10) and second chance points (19-8).

The Golden Eagles return home to the Danzi Center Monday, January 23 when they host John Jay College at 7:00pm. Live stats will be available here.