Sarah Lawrence 63, Farmingdale State 58
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | A late chance to tie the game came up just short for the Farmingdale State College women's basketball team Saturday afternoon, as it dropped a 63-58, Skyline Conference decision to visiting Sarah Lawrence College.
The host Rams (2-4, 0-2 Skyline) were in the midst of an 8-0 run to pull within a 61-58 score, and got a clean look at a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 17 seconds left. However, the shot rimmed out, and the Gryphons (2-3, 2-1) were able to connect on a pair of free throws five seconds before the final buzzer to capture the victory.
FSC took its first lead of the game at 8-7 when senior forward
Layla Mendoza (Westhampton Beach, N.Y.) connected on a pair of free throws with 3:13 left in the first period. Sarah Lawrence countered with six-straight points, and held a 16-12 advantage after the opening 10-minute set.
The Rams knotted the game at 18 apiece three minutes into the second quarter on consecutive buckets by Mendoza (game-high 22 points, 11 rebounds) and junior guard
Erin Conte (Melville, N.Y.). Sarah Lawrence responded with eight straight points, holding Farmingdale State off the scoreboard for more than a four-minute stretch, with the visitors carrying a 33-24 lead into halftime.
A conventional 3-point play by freshman forward
Taneece Wooden (Freeport, N.Y.) 2:40 in started a 12-4 spurt by the home side, and the Rams drew to within a 39-38 margin after Mendoza connected on a put-back lay-in with 4:55 left in the third period. After the Gryphons answered with six-straight points, the teams traded baskets the rest of the frame with SLC leading by a 47-42 count entering the fourth quarter.
Sarah Lawrence used three-straight stops on defense to kick-start a 11-2 run, and led 59-48 with 3:06 left. After the teams traded baskets, Farmingdale State scored eight points within a 40-second span to pull to within a one-possession game. Sophomore guard
Victoria Kantzian (Staten Island, N.Y.) buried a 3-pointer with 1:31 left, with Mendoza converting a layup 16 seconds later before another Kantzian trey with 51 seconds to go closed the Rams' deficit to 61-58. The Gryphons missed their initial shot in their next trip down the floor, before a follow-up field-goal attempt was blocked by Mendoza with 23 ticks on the clock. Out of a time out, FSC's clean look at a long-distance effort drew iron, as did a follow-up jumper, before Sarah Lawrence iced the game with a pair of free throws.
Pohalski finished with a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards, while Wooden added 10 points and nine caroms. Conte led all players with seven assists, setting a career-high in the process.
Head coach
Mark Dellecave's Rams are back in Skyline play Thursday night (Dec. 7), when they travel to St. Joseph's-Brooklyn for a 7 p.m. tip at The Hill Center.
