U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - 58; Farmingdale State - 55

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KINGS POINT, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State College women's basketball team had a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer fall just short Thursday night, as the Rams fell in Skyline Conference play to host U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 58-55.

Following a first period in which the lead changed hands four times, FSC (5-10, 3-7 Skyline) took a 29-28 lead into halftime after a 13-4 run over the final 4:28 of the frame. Sophomore guard Victoria Kantzian (Staten Island, N.Y.) scored eight of her 10 points during the stretch, kicking things off with a 3-pointer with 4:28 on the clock before her trio at the free-throw line with 2:43 remaining closed the visitors to within two points of the Mariners (9-6, 6-5) at 24-22. Senior forward Layla Mendoza (Westhampton Beach, N.Y.) leveled the score on a layup in the Rams' next trip down the floor, before USMMA scored the next four points to temporarily stop the run. From there, junior guard Jenna Pignataro (Farmingville, N.Y.) dialed up a long-range effort with 48 seconds to go, before Kantzian's jumper beat the halftime buzzer to give Farmingdale State its first lead since the 1:11 mark of the first period.

In the third quarter, the Mariners used a 10-2 run to go ahead by seven, 43-36, with under one minute remaining. The Rams finished the period strong on the offensive end of the floor, using a 3-ball by freshman forward Taneece Wooden (Freeport, N.Y.) with 23 ticks on the clock, and a jumper at the horn by senior guard Emily Pohalski (Huntington, N.Y.), to cut their deficit to a 43-41 count with 10 minutes remaining.

The opening portion of the fourth quarter belonged to sophomore guard Adrianna Romo-Leroux (Selden, N.Y.), as her 3-pointer with 6:38 on the clock tied the game at 45, before another trifecta with 3:08 showing lifted Farmingdale State in front, 50-47. USMMA scored the next six points of the contest to go ahead 53-50 with 75 seconds remaining, with Mendoza scoring FSC's final five points of the contest over the final 54 seconds of action. Her buckets at the 41 and 13 second marks, respectively, pulled the visitors to within one-point margins each time, before the Mariners went back ahead by the final 58-55 margin with two free throws with 8.2 seconds to go. The Rams got an open look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but the effort fell just short as USMMA captured the triumph.

Mendoza led Farmingdale State with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, and blocked two shots on defense. Romo-Leroux (3-of-4 3FG) and Kantzian came off the bench to score 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Wooden collected six points and seven caroms. The game was close throughout, as it featured five ties and 10 lead changes on the night.

Head coach Mark Dellecave's Rams are back at home in Skyline play Saturday (Jan. 20), when they welcome Purchase College for a noon start.