Women's Basketball Shoots Past NYIT, 75-65
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 12, 2011) – The C.W. Post Pioneers overcame a first-half deficit against New York Institute of Technology and outscored the Bears, 51-36, in the second half to claim a 75-65 win in an East Coast Conference women's basketball clash Saturday afternoon at the Pratt Recreation Center.
C.W. Post improves to 11-11 overall and 9-8 in conference play while NYIT drops to 7-15 overall and 5-12 in the ECC.
The Pioneers grabbed an early lead using a 9-0 spurt to lead 11-4 with 13:55 to play.
The Bears responded with a run of their own when they ran off seven unanswered points in just over a minute of play to tie the game at 11-11.
The teams exchanged baskets before the Bears' defense took control of the game and held the Pioneers scoreless for nearly seven minutes all the while outscoring them 10-0 to take a 23-17 lead with 5:54 left to play in the half.
C.W. Post ended the drought when junior guard Felicia Joyner (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) knocked down a short jumper at 3:42. Senior guard Janea Aiken (St. Albans, N.Y.) helped cut the lead down to 25-22 when she swished a long three from the left wing at 2:37.
NYIT held on to the lead as Cierra Baker converted a pair of free throws and added a layup. The Pioneers scored the final basket of the half when senior forward Alyssa Lombardi (New Fairfield, Conn.) chipped in a layup at 1:26.
In the second half, C.W. Post's offensive attack improved and the Pioneers tied the game up 33-all as Aiken scored on a layup and added the and-one at 17:27. The Pioneers regained the lead when Joyner scored a layup at 17:22.
C.W. Post increased its lead to 11 (50-40) courtesy of a 15-4 run that was capped off by a layup from Joyner at 9:40. The Pioneers maintained a double digit lead over the next several possessions and led by as many as 14 (59-45) with 7:24 to play.
The Bears knocked the lead down to eight (63-55) after Rebecca Lynch scored a layup at 5:16. Cierra Baker added a layup at 4:54 and two free throws at 4:25 to close the gap to four (63-59). But that was as close as the Bears would come as the Pioneers went on to increase their lead to 11 (74-63) with 1:05 left to play.
C.W. Post finished the game shooting 29 of 59 (.492) from field goal range and went 13-for-19 at the free throw line. NYIT converted 21 of 74 (.284) from the field and went 23-for-30 at the line. Both teams totaled 46 rebounds on the boards.
Aiken led the Pioneers with 24 points while Joyner had 16. Sophomore guard Ashley Caggiano (Holtsville, N.Y.) chipped in 13 points and six assists with three steals. Lombardi finished the game with six points and 11 rebounds.
Baker led all scorers in the game with26 points and registered a double-double with 14 rebounds along with six steals.
C.W. Post returns to action on Feb. 16 on the road when it plays its final regular season game against Molloy. The Pioneers own a 2-0 record against the Lions this season.