Chicago, Ill. – The Le Moyne College women's basketball team traveled to Chicago State and came out on top against the Cougars, 80-76, on Saturday afternoon. The Dolphins now have an 8-18 record overall with a 6-7 mark in NEC contests this season.
Junior forward Ashley Buragas (Hopewell Junction, N.Y. / John Jay / Mineral Area College) set a new career-high and led all players with 30 points, becoming the first Dolphin to reach that mark in a single game since Lytoya Baker did it against Adelphi on Feb. 1, 2023. Buragas shot 11-17 from the field and went 8-10 from the free-throw line in the win, reaching the 1,000-points scored mark in her collegiate career in the process. She also added a team-best eight rebounds and tied for the team-lead in assists with four in 35 minutes on the court.
Senior guard Sierra Linnin (Valley Cottage, N.Y. / Albertus Magnus) added 18 points for Le Moyne, shooting 5-11 overall and 4-8 from beyond the arc with a perfect 4-4 day from the line. She trailed Buragas with six rebounds and registered two steals and one assist.
Sophomore guard Eli Clark (Oakhurst, N.J. / Ocean Township) rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Dolphins, totaling 10 points on 1-6 shooting from the field and a stellar 8-8 rate from the charity stripe. E. Clark and junior guard Jessica Wangolo (Ottawa, O.N. / Capital Courts Academy / Buffalo) tied Linnin with four assists apiece while Wangolo dropped seven points and brought in five boards, as well.
Le Moyne shot 24-49 (49.0%) from the field and 25-28 (89.3%) from the line in the win. The Dolphins recorded 34 points in the paint, 18 points off turnovers, 15 second chance points, and 15 points off the bench against the Cougars.
Marisa Gant (19), Brianna Hill (15), and Keona McGee all finished with double-digit points for Chicago State, while Hill led the team with seven rebounds and four assists. The Cougars added 31 of their 76 points from the bench.
The Dolphins came out to a quick 7-0 lead in the opening quarter of play as a three from Linnin and a pair of field goals out of the hands of Buragas gave the team a cushion in just over two minutes. Over the next five minutes, the Cougars outscored Le Moyne, 14-6, to claim their first lead of the game at the 2:14 mark.
A pair of late threes from freshman guard Peyton Dincher (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore) put the visitors back on top and they hit the first break with a 19-17 advantage.
The two teams remained neck-and-neck through the first half of the second frame, as the lead changed four times by the 4:22 mark left in the first half. Free throws from E. Clark tied the game at 29-29 before the Dolphins once again took the lead on a bucket from the line by Wangolo with 3:20 remaining.
The Cougars connected on back-to back scores in the final minute to reclaim a nine-point lead before Buragas banked a pair of free-throws to bring Le Moyne back within seven, 41-34, at half time.
Chicago State came out of the break hot offensively, putting together a 15-9 run in the first 4:33 of play to go up by a game-high 13 points, 56-43, over the Dolphins.
The Dolphins stormed back from there, however, claiming 14 of the next 16 points to put themselves right back into the game in just four minutes of play. Buragas registered six points during the run while Linnin and freshman guard Kayden Clark (Oakhurst, N.J. / Manasquan) both sank a three-pointer, as well.
A late layup by Buragas with 11 seconds remaining in the quarter was bookended by a pair of Cougar field goals which sent the home team to the final quarter of play with a 62-59 advantage.
Both teams hit a wall on the offensive end of the court to open the frame, as Linnin hit a three, Buragas recorded a layup, and Wangolo connected on a pair of free-throws for the 'Phins only points of the first five minutes.
Wangolo's shots from the line tied the game back up at 66-66 and a pair of shots from the charity stripe by Buragas put Le Moyne ahead with 4:15 left to play. Over the next three minutes, the 'Phins junior forward put up their next six points to reach the 30-point mark in the game and put them up by two points, 74-72.
Le Moyne closed out the game with six free throws in the final 36 seconds, as E. Clark put the Dolphins up by four points and the game out of reach with :11 to go. A missed three by the Cougars in the final seconds solidified the 'Phins third straight win, 80-76.
What's Next:
The Dolphins will return home for a 6:00 p.m. meeting with the CCSU Blue Devils at Ted Grant Court on Thursday, Feb. 19.
