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Le Moyne College Athletics

WBB Senior Day 22
Greg Wall
49
Southern Conn. St. SCSU 9-11,6-8 NE10
59
Winner Le Moyne LeM 15-4,13-3 NE10
Southern Conn. St. SCSU
9-11,6-8 NE10
49
Final
59
Le Moyne LeM
15-4,13-3 NE10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Southern Conn. St. SCSU 12 20 11 6 49
Le Moyne LeM 11 18 12 18 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | James McGlynn, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL EARNS 59-49 WIN OVER SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE ON SENIOR DAY

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College women's basketball team avenged their double-digit defeat at Southern Connecticut State on February 3 by taking down the Owls 59-49 on Saturday afternoon following pre-game "Senior Day" festivities on Ted Grant Court.  Seniors Jenna Zimmerman (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) and Erin Fouracre (Loudonville, N.Y./Colonie Central), as well as redshirt-junior guard Saeeda Abdul-Aziz (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen/Davidson) each scored at least 14 points to lead the Dolphins to their third consecutive Northeast-10 Conference win.

Le Moyne Head Coach Mary Grimes had this to say when asked about her team's composure and execution in critical moments down the stretch of close conference battles:

"It helps that we have a lot of seniors," said Coach Grimes following the win. "They've been in these positions before. When it comes down to the end of the season, and the end of games, a lot of these games are going to be tight, and they understand the magnitude of every possession, that's what we talked about at halftime, just concentrating on every possession whether it's offense or defense, and I think they did a great job of executing down the stretch, especially defensively," Grimes added.

Senior lead guard Fouracre finished the Northeast-10 battle with a game-high 18 points, including 7-9 shooting from the free-throw line, to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 38 minutes and 53 seconds of action. It's very difficult to steal a come-from-behind win on Ted Grant Court because Fouracre is so consistent from the free-throw line at the end of games.

Zimmerman saw over 37 minutes of action for Le Moyne and finished the contest with a stat line of 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block, once again doing a little bit of everything for The 'Phins.

Abdul-Aziz was the third Dolphin in double-figures on Saturday afternoon, contributing 15 points, five rebounds, two steals and one assist. Abdul-Aziz has looked much more comfortable on the offensive end as of late and was effective both in the interior and on the perimeter for Le Moyne during the conference victory.

Junior guard Lytoya Baker (Rochester, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) also played over 38 minutes today for Le Moyne and once again filled up the stat sheet, tallying six points (on 50% shooting), seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. 

Senior forward Emma Brinker (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) was, as usual, relentless in the interior for Le Moyne, attacking the offensive glass and drawing in the defense whenever she caught the ball in the post. Brinker finished the game with just three points, but she grabbed eight rebounds, including four offensive boards, and provided two assists. Brinker's patience and veteran savvy in the painted area as well as her unselfishness to move the ball and only take four shots on Saturday allowed the 'Phins to repeatedly get open looks in the half court. 

The 'Phins opened the scoring less than a minute into the game when Baker threw an entry pass to Brinker in the paint. The defense collapsed on Le Moyne's 6'2" forward, and Brinker dropped off a nice pass to Le Moyne's other 6'2" forward, Zimmerman, who cut through the lane for a layup. Zimmerman knocked down a three-point field goal later in the quarter and had six points after the first ten minutes. Baker scored two baskets for Le Moyne during the first period.

Southern Connecticut State's Alexa Kellner and Patricia Conroy each knocked down three-point field goals during the first ten minutes, and Delaney Haines drove to the basket and scored as the first quarter clock expired to give the Owls a 12-11 lead going into the second period.

Brinker scored a layup to open the second quarter, and after some good ball movement Abdul-Aziz knocked down a three-point field goal at the 8:35 mark to give the Dolphins a 16-12 advantage.

Baker made an impressive block at the 8:25 mark, but Zoe Amalbert knocked down a jumper immediately following the inbounds pass then knocked down a three-point field goal less than 30 seconds later to put the Owls up 17-16. 

Baker grabbed a great offensive rebound the next time down the floor, and during the extra possession Abdul-Aziz delivered a great pass over the defense to Brinker, who caught the ball underneath the basket and drew a foul, went to the line and converted one free-throw to tie the game at 17-17. 

Kellner drilled a three-pointer with 6:22 left in the half, and Abdul-Aziz responded with a three of her own at the end of the shot clock during the next Le Moyne possession to tie the game at 20-20. 

Baker got into the paint on a Le Moyne fast break opportunity and kicked it out to Zimmerman in the corner who drilled the three-point field goal to put the 'Phins up 23-20. 

Fouracre hit a three-point field goal at the end of the shot clock with 3:36 remaining in the half to put Le Moyne up 26-22, but Amalbert answered back with a three-pointer at the 2:52 mark. 

Fouracre drove into the teeth of the defense and kicked it out to junior guard Lexi Gruss (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton) for a corner three-pointer with 1:08 remaining in the second period.

Southern Connecticut State graduate forward Jessica Fressle drained a jumper with just under a minute left in the first half, and senior guard Delaney Connors knocked down a three-pointer at the end of the quarter to put the Owls up 32-29 going into the halftime locker room. 

Both teams shot over 40% from three-point land during the first 20 minutes of the contest. 

Amalbert had 10 points during the first half, but the 'Phins did well to contain the talented senior guard during the second half, and Amalbert finished the game with 13 points. 
With 6:40 left in the third quarter, Abdul-Aziz drove across the lane and passed the ball to Zimmerman in the short corner. Zimmerman attacked the basket, got into the paint, drew a foul and converted one of two free-throws to trim Le Moyne's deficit to 38-30. 

Fouracre's defensive pressure on the perimeter forced a SCSU turnover with under five minutes remaining in the third period. Baker grabbed the loose ball, pushed it up the right side of the floor and threw a pass ahead into the path of Fouracre, who was sprinting up the left wing. Fouracre took a dribble, gathered the ball at the left block, finished a left-handed layup and drew a foul for an and-1 opportunity. Fouracre missed the additional free-throw, but less than a minute later the senior point guard drove to the basket and converted a layup at the 3:39 mark to trim the Owls lead to 39-34. 

Kellner converted a shot in the painted area to extend Southern Connecticut State's lead to 41-34.

Le Moyne threw a lob to Zimmerman in the middle of the paint off a baseline out of bounds play with under two minutes remaining. Zimmerman took a pound dribble in the lane, went up for a layup, drew a foul and converted both free-throws to make it 41-36 Southern Connecticut State. 

Baker made a deflection at the top of Le Moyne's zone to cause a SCSU turnover with 1:30 left in the penultimate period. During the ensuing Le Moyne possession, the Dolphins got Abdul-Aziz the ball in the post. SAA made a move towards her right shoulder, finished a left-handed layup, drew a foul and converted the additional free-throw to make it 41-39 SCSU. 

Fouracre made a steal with under a minute left in the quarter, then drove to the basket as the clock was winding down, drew a foul on her shot attempt and sank both free-throws to make it 43-41 in favor of the Owls at the end of the third period. 

One minute and a half into the fourth quarter, Gruss dribbled into the lane and passed the ball to Abdul-Aziz on the right block. Abdul-Aziz mishandled the pass initially, but gathered the ball under pressure and finished a layup over two defenders to tie the game at 43-43.

Less than 30 seconds later, Zimmerman blocked a Fressle shot as the Owls forward was driving across the lane. With the game tied at 43-43 and the strong SCSU veteran forward driving to the basket with her dominant hand, Zimmerman used her long arms to complete a rejection that only one of the best defensive players in the conference is capable of making. 

For the second consecutive game, the Dolphins held their opponent to under 50 points. While Le Moyne's defense has been dominant because every player that steps on the floor is fully bought in to the defensive game plan, it certainly helps to have not one, but two Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year Candidates. Baker and Zimmerman have been transcendent on the defensive end all season long for Le Moyne, while also being relied on heavily on the offensive end. During today's win over SCSU, Baker and Zimmerman combined for four steals and three blocks. 

Fouracre drove to the basket and scored with 7:55 remaining to give Le Moyne the lead at 45-43. Le Moyne got a stop on the other end, then Baker attacked the defense and drilled a pull up eight-foot jump shot in the painted area to extend the lead to 47-43. 

Southern Connecticut State brought the ball up the floor and missed a three-pointer. Baker grabbed the long rebound near the top of the key and quickly pushed the ball up the right side of the floor. Fouracre filled the left lane and Baker made a nice pass across the court. Fouracre caught the ball, took one dribble and finished the left-handed layup to put the 'Phins up 49-43 with 6:44 remaining, forcing a SCSU timeout.

Le Moyne's defensive intensity did not let up at any point during the fourth quarter, allowing just six Southen Connecticut State points during the final ten minutes of the game. 

With just over five minutes remaining in the contest, Fouracre drove the ball and dropped off a pass to Abdul-Aziz on the left block. SAA converted the tough finish to make it a 10-0 Le Moyne run to start the fourth quarter and give the 'Phins a 51-43 lead. 

Haines drained a three-point field goal for Southern Connecticut State to stop the run and cut Le Moyne's lead to five points. 

The Owls got a good look from behind the three-point line for a chance to make it a one-possession game with 2:55 remaining following a Le Moyne turnover, but the shot missed to the left and Gruss grabbed the key defensive rebound for the Dolphins.

During the ensuing Le Moyne possession, Baker delivered a good pass to Abdul-Aziz in the post. Abdul-Aziz turned towards her right shoulder, made a nice move along the baseline and dropped a dime to Zimmerman who slashed through the middle of the paint, caught the bounce pass and put the ball through the hoop to put Le Moyne up 53-46.

During the next Le Moyne possession, Baker delivered a great pass to Abdul-Aziz on the right block. Abdul-Aziz drew a foul and sank both free-throws to give the Dolphins a nine-point lead.

Amalbert scored her only field goal of the second half when she knocked down a three-pointer to cut her team's deficit to 55-49. 

Down six points with 1:21 remaining in the game, the Owls opted not to foul, aiming for a crucial stop to get possession back with the opportunity to make it a one-possession game.

The Dolphins worked the ball around the perimeter and got the ball to Zimmerman in the interior. Zimmerman missed the baby hook shot, but Baker soared in the air and grabbed the offensive rebound in the paint, giving Le Moyne a new shot clock and forcing the Owls to start fouling. 

Fouracre went 4-4 from the line during the final minute to put the game away as the Dolphins earned their 13th conference win of the season and clinched a home game in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament. 

The Le Moyne College women's basketball team improved to 15-4 overall and 13-3 against conference competition following the win. The 'Phins will be in action next on Monday, February 14 when they battle Southern New Hampshire on Ted Grant Court.
 
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