DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2019) – Despite a team-high 22 points and ten rebounds from sophomore Amber Brown (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick), the Mercy College women's basketball team suffered a, 74-63, setback to ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Wednesday night at the Victory Hall Sports Center on National Girls and Women in Sports Day .
The Mavericks (4-18, 1-11 ECC) fail to build off their win over UDC, while the Purple Knights (9-13, 5-7 ECC) sweep the season series with Mercy.
Brown went 9-of-21 from the floor and had one block and two steals. Freshman Taysha Bender (Glen Burnie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) netted ten points and junior Abigail Collier (Watertown, Conn./Watertown) recorded eight points. Sophomore Anna Zaborowska (Copiague, N.Y./Copiague) produced seven points and freshman Alexis Lake (Lakeview, N.Y./Malverne) poured in six points.
Bridgeport was led by Samnell Vonleh who had a game-high 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Mercy jumped out to an 8-2 lead at the 4:40 mark of the first quarter following a Holly Sanders (Chicago, Ill./Simeon Career Academy) jumper. The Mavericks held a 10-4 advantage with 2:22 on the clock after a Brown layup. Bridgeport ended the quarter on an 11-2 run to take a 15-12 lead after the opening quarter.
The Purple Knights started the second quarter on a 9-4 run to build an eight-point lead, 24-16, with 6:17 remaining in the half. The Mavericks continued to battle and got within four, 30-26, at the 2:25 mark after a three from Brianne Santos (Elmont, N.Y./Nazareth Regional). Bridgeport scored the final five points of the half to take a 35-26 lead at halftime.
Bridgeport held a seven-point lead, 45-38, with 3:33 left in the third quarter before Mercy scored three straight points to make it 45-41 with two minutes remaining in the period. The Purple Knights closed out the quarter with six straight points to take a 51-41 lead after three quarters.
The visitors looked to be pulling away, but the Mavericks did not back down and opened the fourth quarter on a 12-3 run to get within one, 54-53, after a Zaborowska layup with 5:24 left to play. A Briana Stoddart three on the next possession gave Bridgeport a four-point lead, 57-53, and started a 9-0 run that put the guests back up ten, 63-53, with 3:44 remaining. The Purple Knights led the rest of the way in securing the win.
Mercy shot 40.0 percent (24-of-60) from the floor, 20.0 percent (4-of-20) from downtown and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the foul line. Bridgeport shot 45.3 percent (29-of-64) from the field, 20.0 percent (3-of-15) from beyond the arc and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the charity stripe. Bridgeport held a 46-31 edge on the glass and a 48-26 advantage in points in the paint.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, February 13th when they play at Queens at 7 p.m.
