Four Mavericks Score in Double Digits in Close Loss to Chestnut Hill
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Dec. 30, 2011) – Senior forward Jasmine Williams (Stratford, Conn.) scored 13 points as one of four Mavericks to reach double digits on Friday but foul trouble and cold shooting left the Mercy College women's basketball team four points shy of Chestnut Hill College as the Griffins won, 63-59.
Chestnut Hill improves to 2-9 with the victory while Mercy falls to 0-10 on the year.
An incredible 50 fouls were called during the game, and Mercy felt the brunt of the whopping total as senior point guard Simone Williams (Waldorf, Md.) and two bench players picked up three early fouls apiece and two other starters were called for two each in the first half.
The teams traded baskets for the first 10 minutes of the game until the Mavericks took the largest lead of the half by five, but Chestnut Hill outscored Mercy 18-10 to take a three-point lead into the half. Mercy jumped out to the lead shortly after the break before Chestnut Hill recovered to lead through most of the half, but Simone Williams and senior forward Talia Beaulieu (Waldorf, Md.) each picked up their fourth foul early in the half and were limited to just 20 and 14 minutes in the game, respectively. As Simone Williams and two others fouled out, the Mavericks' bench became increasingly thin and Chestnut Hill took advantage, responding to Mercy taking the lead by one with 5:13 to go by riding a 10-4 run to close the game out, 63-59.
The Mavericks struggled from the field, hitting only 28 percent of their shots, but enjoyed four double-digit scorers nonetheless. Jasmine Williams added 14 rebounds to her 13 points to notch the double-double as junior wing Jessica Biggs (Nanuet, N.Y.), sophomore guard Maria Nardulli (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Beaulieu scored 13, 12 and 11, respectively, with Biggs posting a career-high and leading the game in steals (four), Nardulli grabbing eight boards and hitting the team team's only two three-pointers and Beaulieu adding six rebounds. Simone Williams lead the team with four assists despite fouling out after just 20 minutes and junior forward MarQuesha Moore (Bryans Road, Md.) contributed nine points and six rebounds in just 17 minutes before also fouling out.
Junior forward Lindsay Alexander (Huntingdon Valley, Pa.) paced the Griffins with 10 points while adding four rebounds and four steals. Junior guard Marqesah Spicer (Philadelphia, Pa.) also poured in 10 points while senior wing Aiesha Smith (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the game with five assists and senior forward Ebony Washington (Philadelphia, Pa.) grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.
Head Coach Kelli Dunlay and the Mavericks (0-2 in the ECC) will recommence East Coast Conference play on Tuesday, Jan. 3 when they travel to NYIT (6-4, 1-0) for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
