Mercy Rally Falls Short, Women's Basketball Loses to CW Post 84-76
The Mercy College women's basketball team rallied from a
double digit deficit, but could not overcome C.W. Post on Saturday
afternoon, falling 84-76 in East Coast Conference play. The game,
played before 218 people, was the annual ECC Respect Game, which
places a special emphasis on sportsmanship and fair play.
With the loss, the Mavericks drop to 5-15 overall (3-12 ECC),
while the Pioneers improve to 10-10 (8-7 ECC).
Mercy build an early 6-2 lead on conventional three point 
plays by senior Ashley
Borofsky (Southington, Conn./Southington) and junior
Jasmine Williams (Stratford, Conn./Greens Farms
Academy). Minutes later, Borofsky made a layup at the
16:17 mark, and Mercy led 8-4.
Undeterred, the Pioneers commandeered a 9-0 run, led by
Nicolette Marciniak and Ashley Caggiano. C.W. Post shot the ball
extremely well in the first half, connecting on 56.3 percent of
their shots, and led by as many as 13, 45-32, at the half.
As the second stanza got underway, Mercy chipped away at the
lead. Jasmine Williams made a layup and was fouled at the 16:36
mark. She made that free throw, and the lead was down to eight with
16:35 to go. Junior Talia
Beaulieu (Waldorf, Md./McDonough) made her own
three-point play at 15:29, and the lead was down to six, 51-45.
Minutes later, the lead was down to just four, when Jasmine
Williams converted a free throw with 10:34 to go.
The teams continued to trade baskets. The score remained tight.
With 4:13 to play, Borofsky hit a three pointer, and the lead
remained four points, 75-71. Caggiano then made a three pointer for
C.W. Post, and the Pioneers were off and running.
Down the stretch, Janea Aiken made several key free throws for
the Pioneers, who held on for the 84-76 victory.
For the game, both teams went to the free throw line 41 times
each, with C.W. Post holding a 28-26 advantage in makes. Mercy held
a decided edge in rebounding, grabbing 55 to C.W. Post's
34.
For Mercy, Jasmine Williams recorded 16 points and 16 rebounds,
including eight on the offensive end. Junior Simone
Williams (Waldorf, Md./Lackey) led the team in scoring
with 23 points, while Borofsky added 20. Borofsky is now just four
points away from her 1,000th career point.
For the Pioneers, Janea Aiken led all scorers with 26 points,
including making nine of her 12 free throws. Marciniak added 17
points, and Caggiano 12.
Prior to today's game, Mercy honored its past with the
annual Alumni Basketball Game. Several alums were in attendance,
including Hall of Famer Carol Leib, Dawn Ellison ('92), and
Jessica Santiago ('02).
Mercy now takes to the road for the next week, travelling to
Bridgeport on Wednesday, February 9, and Queens College on
Saturday, February 12.
