Aysha Williams Pushes Mercy to 79-74 Overtime Win
Mercy College sophomore Aysha Williams blocked a shot by
NYIT's Alexandra Venuto with five seconds remaining in
overtime, and the Mavericks women's basketball team held on
for a 79-74 win on Saturday afternoon, in East Coast Conference
action.
The game was vital for Mercy (5-12; 3-9 ECC), who is now just
one game behind NYIT (6-12; 4-9 ECC) in league play. Mercy has now
defeated NYIT twice this season, with the third and final matchup
scheduled for Feb. 23, in Old Westbury, N.Y.
Mercy struggled mightily as the game began, recording just
one field goal in its first 14 possessions. Meanwhile, the Bears
built a 13-2 lead with 13:48 to play. Mercy finally found traction
on the defensive end, and forced several turnovers that led to easy
points. With 9:52 to go in the half, the Mavericks had climbed the
mountain, and took the lead at 16-15 on a pair of Jasmine
Williams (Stratford, Conn./Greens Farms Academy) free
throws.
Mercy kept up the pressure, and went on to outscore NYIT for the
half, taking a 35-23 lead.
In the second half, Mercy quickly extended the lead to as many
as 16 points early on. Refusing to go quietly, the Bears went on a
magical 21-4 run, and took a tenuous one point lead at 46-45 with
11:22 to go in regulation. Play remained tight for the rest of the
half.
Aysha Williams (New Rochelle, N.Y./New
Rochelle) hit a pair of free throws with 1:47 to go in
the second half, giving Mercy the lead at 63-62. Senior Sam
DeVore (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free Academy) hit
another free throw a minute later, and Mercy had a two-point
lead.
With 18 seconds to play, NYIT's Rebecca Lynch hit a pair
of free throws, knotting the game at 64 points apiece. Mercy had
one final possession, but a turnover with under three seconds to go
sent the game into overtime.
In bonus basketball, NYIT won the opening tip, and Cierra Baker
made a breakaway layup. The Mavericks responded with a convincing
6-0 run, with Aysha Williams scoring four of those points. NYIT
fought back, and Baker's free throws at 2:26 knotted the game
at 70.
Moments later, the game was tied again at 72. It was the 
tenth and final tied score of the game.
Next, junior Simone
Williams (Waldorf, Md./Lackey) made a layup, driving
the baseline. After senior Ashley
Borofsky (Southington, Conn./Southington) made a free
throw, Mercy had built a three-point lead with 24 seconds to
play.
Tech's Baker made two more free throws, her
25th and 26th points of the game, and the
lead was back to just one with 23 seconds left in the first
overtime.
Then, it became the Aysha Williams show. Her pair of free throws
game Mercy a 77-74 lead with 16 seconds to play. On the ensuing
NYIT possession, Venuto tried a three-pointer from the corner, and
Aysha Williams blocked it back into Venuto and out of bounds, and
Mercy took possession with under five seconds to go. She then hit
another pair of free throws with under four seconds to play, and
Mercy claimed the 79-74 win.
For the game, NYIT's Baker led all players in points with
26, and rebounds with 16. Teammate Rebecca Lynch added 25 points
before fouling out in the game's waning moments. For Mercy,
Aysha Williams had a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
She made 15 of her 16 free throw attempts. Simone Williams had her
own double-double, with ten points and ten assists.
Mercy, who has now won three times in its last six games, heads
to Molloy College on Monday night, January 31.
