SAINTS EVEN RECORD WITH 71-60 WIN

Dec. 2: The St. Lawrence University women’s basketball team picked up an impressive 71-60 victory on Friday evening over Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY. The Saints were led by Kimberly Sikule’s 19 points, and with the win, evened their record at 2-2.

 

St. Lawrence built an early 9-4 lead in the game, and after Andrea Muszynski stole the ball and hit fellow junior Brittany Gaetano with a pass, Gaetano knocked down a three pointer to extend the Saints’ lead to 12-4 with just over fifteen minutes left to play in the first half.

 

However, Hartwick refused to fold and battled back into the game and actually stole the lead at 14-12 when Danee Harrison hit a jumper with 11:10 to go in the half. St. Lawrence’s leadership and toughness was key, though, and with 8:22 remaining in the first half, Andrea Muszynski, last week’s Liberty League Co-Forward of the Week, knocked down a shot to give the Saints a 20-19. They would never look back.

 

After carrying a 28-24 lead at the half, the Saints expanded their lead to as many as fifteen points in the second half. With the lead at 15 with a mere 2:57 in regulation, Hartwick made their last stand when sophomore guard Paige Harris hit back-to-back three pointers to pull to within nine. The Saints’ showed poise on the road, converting four of six free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.

 

The Saints were led by Sikule’s 19 point, 2 rebound, 6 steal performance, and juniors Brittany Gaetano and Andrea Muszynski chipped in 13 and 12 points each, respectively. St. Lawrence also got quality minutes off the bench from Jessica Smith and Christie Herbst. Smith totaled 8 points and 3 assists in 17 minutes, while Herbst scored 9 and grabbed 2 boards in 14 minutes of action.

 

After evening their record at 2-2, the Saints return home to face the Potsdam Bears on Monday, December 5 th at 6:00pm.

 

 

 

MUSZYNSKI EARNS LIBERTY

LEAGUE RECOGNITION

Nov. 30: After having perhaps the best game of her career in a St. Lawrence uniform, Andrea Muszynski was honored by the Liberty League for her outstanding performance against Oswego State, the No. 1 team in the region.

Muszynski was selected Co-Forward of the Week by the conference, as she led the Saints in their upset victory over the Lakers in their 2005-2006 home opener. The junior forward went 7-13 from the field, scoring 20 points. She also grabbed 6 boards and added 2 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals. Her leadership down the stretch seemed to give the team more confidence and eventually led to the victory.

 

The Saints will look to continue their success when they visit Hartwick College on Friday, December 2nd. Tip-Off is set for 6:00pm.

 

 

 

SAINTS PULL OFF UPSET,

TOP LAKERS 68-60 IN HOME OPENER

Nov. 27: The St. Lawrence University women’s basketball team hosted the regionally ranked No. 1 Oswego State Lakers on Sunday afternoon in the Saints home opener. The Saints, coming off a tough loss at the buzzer last weekend, responded with a gritty performance to come away with their first win of the season, a 68-60 upset.

 

The Saints (1-2) ran into a bit of tough luck in the opening minute, as senior forward and leading scorer Nora Curley picked up two quick fouls in 45 seconds. Oswego took advantage of Curley’s absence, pounding the ball inside and taking an early 14-7 lead just over six minutes into the contest. St. Lawrence countered with quickness and tough defense, pushing the ball up the floor and had a 9-0 run of their own, capped by a solid lay-up inside by junior Andrea Muszynski to give the Saints their first lead at 16-14.

 

The Lakers, ranked No. 1 in the region, answered the Saints momentum. Lacey Kimpland knocked down a three point basket with 6:47 to play in the first half that gave Oswego a 10 point lead (28-18). However, the Lakers were unable to put the Saints away in the first half, with St. Lawrence working hard on the defensive end.

 

After clawing back from that 10 point deficit, the Saints had the ball with 20 seconds to play in the first half trailing by only one. They got the ball to their shooter, sophomore Jamie Wolff, who canned a jumper with only one second left in the half, giving the Saints the halftime lead at 31-30, and perhaps smelling the upset.

 

The second half began with Oswego having the hot-hand. The Lakers, behind Samantha Driscoll and Sarah Lombard, opened up a nine point lead early in the half. Then, with the score at 46-37, Kelly Mraz took a pass from Driscoll and hit a three pointed to give the Lakers the largest lead of the game at 12 with just over 12 minutes to play in the game.

 

Jennifer Kroll’s team would respond, though, and the Saints made their move. Jamie Wolff hit a three pointer to close the gap to five, and then Andrea Muszynski showed her leadership, taking the ball and making two clutch baskets to pull the Saints to within one with 8:05 to play in regulation. Christie Herbst, who gave the Saints quality minutes off the bench, put St. Lawrence on top for the first time in the 2 nd half at 52-51 when she made a jump shot with 6:25 to play. The Saints would never look back.

 

After Herbst and Seward knocked down a pair of free throws each, the Saints were up five with 4:50 to play. The Lakers would tie the game, though, after Lacey Kimpland made a three pointer with 3:10 to go with the score 60-60. Free throw shooting again was imperative for the Saints, with Wolff making a pair to put the Saints up 62-60, followed by Gaetano’s two free throws to put the Saints up by four. Kelly Mraz took a three pointer with 20 seconds to go, but her shot hit the rim and Muszynski came down with the big rebound for the Saints to assure the upset.

 

“We out-scrapped them today. We didn’t do everything right, but we worked hard on the defensive end and got quality minutes off the bench,” said head coach Jennifer Kroll.

 

The Saints were led by Muszynski, who went 7-13 from the field and 6-8 from the free throw line, picking up 20 points and 6 rebounds in the win. Teammates Jamie Wolff (13 points) and Christie Herbst (6 points/4 rebounds/1 steal) also played hard for the Saints.

 

St. Lawrence will be in action on Friday, December 2nd at 6:00pm when they visit the Hawks of Hartwick College.