BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) women's basketball team came up just short Tuesday night in Skyline Conference play, falling 65–62 to Purchase College in a tightly contested battle at The Hill Center.
The Bears opened the game with strong energy on both ends. Midway through the first quarter, Kristen Donovan's (Maspeth, N.Y.) second made field goal of the game, a corner three-pointer, marked the 1,000th point of her collegiate career. Donovan and Mercedes Perez (San Antonio, Texas) connected on a pair of three-pointers each as the Bears closed the quarter ahead 20–12.
St. Joseph's continued to find rhythm in the second period, with Donovan draining three more triples and Judith Vila (Vilassar de Mar, Spain) adding a three of her own as the Bears built a 37–22 advantage at halftime.
The Bears saw their largest lead of the night at 7:39 in the third stanza, 44-22. However, Purchase responded after the break with a strong third-quarter push, using points in the paint and second-chance opportunities to swing momentum. The Panthers outscored the Bears 20–13 in the period, trimming the deficit to 50–45 entering the final quarter.
Purchase chipped away throughout the fourth quarter with interior scoring and key free throws, gradually turning a deficit into a late lead. The Panthers grabbed their first and only advantage of the night at the foul line in the final seconds, and the Bears' last look at the buzzer came up empty as the visitors secured the comeback win.
Donovan led all scorers with 20 points, bringing her career total to 1,016. She connected on six three-pointers, while adding six rebounds. Perez finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Grech added nine points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals while Centrella chipped in seven points and seven boards and Vila also had seven points to go with five caroms.
The Bears return to action after the Thanksgiving break on Tuesday, December 2 at SUNY Old Westbury in the first of a six-game road swing. Tipoff is scheduled for 6Â pm.
