Women Edge Philadelphia, 68-67

from AUPANTHERS.COM

Garden City, N.Y. - Five different players scored in double figures as the Adelphi University women's basketball team edged Philadelphia University, 68-67, Tuesday night at Woodruff Hall. The Panthers improve to 15-8 overall and 14-6 in the NYCAC while the Lady Rams drop to 16-8 on the season and 14-7 in the conference.

Junior Meranne Whitney (Nashua, N.H.) led the Adelphi charge with a team high 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Junior Melanie Mangone (Middle Village, N.Y.) had 14 points while senior Kerri Kirschbaum (Leonardo, N.J.) and sophomore Carlyshia Hurdle (Brentwood, N.Y.) chipped in 11 points each. Senior Jamie Douglas pulled down a team-high nine rebounds along with 10 points.

Senior Kerri Kirschbaum had 11 points, four rebunds and three steals for Adelphi aupanthers.com

The Panthers exploded in the first half, shooting 50 percent from the field (16-of-32) to open on a 19-7 run through the 15:22 mark. A jumper by junior Ivy Laws (Wyncote, PA) brought the Lady Rams to within eight at 13:36. Adelphi responded on a 13-2 run to realize its largest lead of the night, 30-13. The Panthers capitalized on 14 Philadelphia turnovers, converting for 21 points in the first half. The Lady Rams began to chip away at the Adelphi lead, finishing the half on a 22-13 run to come to within nine points at the end of the first half, 44-35.

Philadelphia continued its course in the second half, opening on a 14-3 run to tie the game, 49-49, with 15:23 remaining. After tying once more, Mangone hit a three-pointer at 14:32 to give the Panthers the advantage. The Lady Rams responded with four unanswered points to take their first lead of the night, 55-54. Three lead changes and four ties followed, which kept the game close over the next eight minutes. A three-pointer from senior Jean-Marie Reilly (Collegeville, PA) with 2:08 on the clock put the Panthers down, 66-67. Douglas poured in what would prove to be the final basket on a jumper at 1:16, 68-67. Adelphi was 0-of-3 from the free-throw line in the final minute, but managed to hold the Lady Rams scoreless for the win.

Reilly led all players with a game high 23 points, hitting 9-of-13 from the field. Junior Keisha King (Philadelphia, PA) hauled down a game-high 15 rebounds along with eight points.

Adelphi has now swept its series against Philadelphia this season and moves into third place in the NYCAC rankings.