By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Jan. 26, 2013) The Morrisville State College women’s basketball team posted a late second half comeback attempt, but ran out of time as Cazenovia College collected the 64-58 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory Saturday afternoon in Morrisville.
The Mustangs drop to 1-17 overall, 1-9 in NEAC play. Cazenovia improves to 4-14 overall, 4-6 in the conference.
Courtney Coley (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Mustang efforts, posting a team high 14 points, adding seven rebounds, while teammates Queen Holquin (Bronx, N.Y.) and Jennel Paul (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each added 12. Nijee Scott (Bronx, N.Y.) registered 12 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass, to lead the Mustangs on the boards, to go along with nine points, seven assists and five steals.
Four tallied double figures for the Wildcats, including Kimberly Vrigian who netted 21 points on the day, adding three assists and four steals to her tallies. Megan McDermott chipped in 15, posting the double-double with a 14 rebound performance, while teammates Haley Zambito and Erin O’Malley each added 10.
Morrisville State shot just 25.7 percent in the first half, but was able to keep within the reach of Cazenovia at the break as they trailed 31-23.
In the second, the Wildcats extended their lead to as many as 15 with 14:38 to go before Morrisville State began to chip away, cutting the deficit to just three with 6:58 showing on the clock.
A three-pointer by Paul tied the contest for the Mustangs forty seconds later, fueling a defensive spark, but a three by Vrigian with just over four minutes remaining regained a five point advantage for Cazenovia.
Morrisville State capitalized on two straight Wildcat turnovers, again cutting the margin to just one, but Vrigian again nailed one from long range and later added two free throws as Cazenovia led on for the victory.
Cazenovia out shot Morrisville State, hitting 44.9 percent on 22-of-49 shots on the day, while the Mustangs were 21-for-71 in the contest (29.6 percent). Morrisville State held the slim 46-42 margin on the boards, including the 19-6 advantage on the offensive glass.
Morrisville State returns to the court Wednesday, hosting Keuka College at 5 p.m.