Merchant Marine - 56, Farmingdale State - 53
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State women's basketball team nearly erased a 16-point deficit on Tuesday evening, but their game-tying 3-point attempt was blocked at the buzzer as they fell to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 56-53, in Skyline action.
In a low-scoring first quarter, FSC (2-3, 1-2 Skyline) trailed 9-4 before back-to-back jumpers from sophomore guard
Emily Tsiforas (Mahasset Hills, N.Y.) and junior forward
Samyah Allen (Queens Village, N.Y.) brought Farmingdale State to within one.
Merchant Marine (4-1, 3-0 Skyline) held a 13-12 advantage after the first quarter and began the second with a free-throw. After Allen tied the game on a layup, the Mariners closed the half on a 16-5 run as they took a 30-19 advantage into the break.
Carolae Barton recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first 20 minutes for Merchant Marine.
USMMA increased their advantage to 43-27 midway through the third quarter before an 8-2 spurt by the Rams made it a 10-point game at 45-35.
In the fourth quarter, Farmingdale State was down nine, 51-42, with 3:45 left to play and used a 3-pointer from Tsiforas and a tip-in layup by senior forward
Alexandria Walbroehl (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) to quickly close within four, 51-47.
The Mariners responded with a pair of baskets to push the margin back to eight, but Tsiforas tallied three consecutive points to cut it to 55-50 with one minute remaining.
After a Mariners free-throw, sophomore guard Brianna Amenta (Oceanside, N.Y.) knocked down a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to bring FSC within three, 56-53.
Following a timeout, freshman forward Allison Ntambwe (Queens Village, N.Y.) stole the ball with eight seconds left to give the Rams a final possession. Amenta's potential game-tying 3-pointer was blocked at the buzzer as Merchant Marine held on for the 56-53 conference victory.
Tsiforas led FSC with a career-high 14 points, to go with five rebounds and four steals. Allen registered 12 points and three assists, while Walbroehl produced 11 points and 10 rebounds. Ntambwe finished with four points, seven rebounds, two steals and four blocked shots in the loss.
Barton led Merchant Marine with 22 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks.
The Rams will next play host to Skyline opponent Purchase College on Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:00 p.m.
