Stony Brook, N.Y. - Trailing UMBC by one with 16:36 remaining in the second half, a 12-0 run by Stony Brook's women's basketball team propelled the Seawolves to a 59-48 victory on Senior Night in Pritchard Gymnasium. Junior Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) scored a game-high 22 as Stony Brook secured itself a top-five seed in next weekend's America East Championship. With the victory, SBU is 9-19 (7-9 America East) while UMBC is 13-16 (7-9).
"This is one of the more satisfying wins of the season," said head coach Michele Cherry. "To see our team progress from a No. 7 seed to possibly a No. 4 is just tremendous. And then to send our two seniors, Joia Daniels and Crystal Rushin, out on a victory makes it that much sweeter."
Stony Brook struggled out of the gate as it fell behind 13-6 just over four minutes into the game.Desptie connecting on just 8-of-28 first half field goals, the Seawolves managed to stay within one at 25-24 at halftime. Strong defensive pressure by Stony Brook forced UMBC into 20 total turnovers, 11 in the first half.
After the two teams combined to score just four points over the first 6:49 of the second half, Stony Brook's offense caught fire, sparked by back-to-back threes from freshman Gerda Gatling (Woodbridge, Va.). The Seawolves would go on to score 12 unanswered points over the next 3:05 to move in front 40-29. SBU had assists on each of the six baskets it made during the run, and finished the game with 16 assists on 20 made field goals.
Stony Brook would build its lead to as many as 15 with 5:22 remaining on a three-point play from sophomore Destiny Jacobs (Glen Burnie, Md.). A three from UMBC's Erin Brown cut SBU's advantage to nine with 3:27 remaining, but junior Misha Horsey (Wyncote, Pa.) answered right back with a three of her own to push the lead back into double-digits, where it stayed for the remainder of the game.
 |
Horsey finished the game with 13 points and five assists. Jeter added three assists, eight rebounds and four steals to her 22 points to earn America East Player of the Game honors for Stony Brook. Michelle Kurowski scored a team-high 14 to receive the honor for UMBC.
Stony Brook's seeding in the America East Championship now depends on who wins the Maine-Albany game tonight. If Maine wins, the Seawolves will be the No. 4 seed. If Albany wins, SBU will have to wait for the result of the New Hampshire-Boston University game on Sunday to find out where they are seeded.
