Dolphins Fall Short to Rams in Triple Overtime

Farmingdale State - 98, Mount Saint Vincent - 96  (TRIPLE OT)

Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State women's basketball team saw triple overtime tonight with Skyline opponent Mount Saint Vincent (8-5, 5-2), but Rams senior guard Kimberly Blakney (Brooklyn, N.Y./Benjamin Banneker) scored 41 points in the 98-96 win to keep her team undefeated at 11-0, 6-0 in the conference.

After holding a 37-32 lead at the halftime break, the Dolphins quickly pushed the lead up to 15 points with 14 minutes remaining, making the game seem out of reach for the undefeated Rams. But that was before sophomore guard Shemique Hooks (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) and Blakney sent the Rams on a 16-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to one point, 55-54.

Mount Saint Vincent built the lead back up to six, 60-54, but Farmingdale was not going away, as junior guard Janel Monah (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) tied the game with a three-pointer at the 7:17 mark. Another six point lead for the Dolphins, 71-65, came off a three-pointer from sophomore guard Jen Mocanu (Middletown, N.J./Middletown) as the shot clock ran out and just 52 seconds remained in the game.

The Rams held Mount Saint Vincent to just one point over those final seconds, as two layups from Blakney and senior guard Kamaya Miller (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) made the score, 72-70, with 16 seconds left to tie the game. The Dolphins missed two free throws with 14 seconds left and Blakney was sent to the line on a foul with eight seconds to go, hitting both to tie the game at 72-72. Senior guard Tiffara Steward (Elmont, N.Y./Sewanhaka) made a key steal to secure the overtime period.

In the first overtime, Farmingdale trailed by three, 79-76, and Blakney knocked down the game-tying three, 79-79, with 35 seconds to go. The Dolphins missed a layup, giving the Rams the final shot at the win, but a buzzer beater would fall short and the game would see its second overtime.

In the second overtime, Mocanu and senior forward Courtney Heeseman (New Hyde Park, N.Y./New Hyde Park) combined to give Mount Saint Vincent the lead at 88-83, before another Blakney three-pointer made it 88-85. Steward hit 1-of-2 free throws and then hit a jumper to put the Rams up 89-88, and Mocanu hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game at 89-89 with 1:18 left to play. No scoring over the final minute would send the game into the third OT.

A three-pointer by freshman guard Jeanette Zubizaretta (Bay Shore, N.Y./Calhoun) gave Farmingdale a 97-94 advantage with 1:21 to play, as Mount Saint Vincent senior guard Jill Brady (Rockaway Beach, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) responded with a jumper to make it 97-96 with 1:10 left on the ticker.

With 28 seconds remaining, Steward stole the ball from Brady and Blakney was fouled going to the basket, sending her to the line with 27 seconds left. Hitting 1-of-2 free throws, Blakney made it 98-96 Farmingdale and the game would finally be decided.

Blakney's 41 points was a game-high, along with her game-highs of 17 rebounds and seven steals. Miller finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Farmingdale and senior guard Juanita Chappel (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grand Street Campus) finished with 11 points.

The Dolphins were led by Mocanu with 23 points and 11 boards, while Heesemann finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Three others for the Dolphins in double figures were Karissa Koerner with 17 points, Lauren Percodani with 10 points and 11 assists, and Ciara Clarke with 11 points.

Farmingdale State will now travel to face Skyline opponent Old Westbury on Thursday, January 14th at 6:00 p.m. in a double-header with the men's team.

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