BOMBERS END SAINTS WINNING

STREAK AT THREE

Dec. 9: The St. Lawrence University women’s basketball team staged a furious comeback in the final two minutes of regulation versus Ithaca on Friday evening, erasing an 11 point deficit. Unfortunately, the Saints effort came up just short as Nora Curley’s shot at the buzzer just missed and the Bombers of Ithaca snapped the Saints three game winning streak, 60-58.  

 

In a very tight game between two competitive squads, the Bombers and Saints battled back and forth, having a total of ten ties in the contest. Ithaca took an early seven point lead when Lauren Kusy scored two of her seven points at the six minute mark, giving the Bombers an early 11-4 lead. However, the Saints (3-3) ran off a quick 11-2 run of their own, capped by a pair of made free throws by Jamie Wolff to give St. Lawrence a 15-13 advantage with just under ten minutes to play in the first half.  

 

St. Lawrence and Ithaca would exchange scoring, and the game was tied for the fourth time of the evening, this time at 26-26, when Kimberly Sikule hit a three pointer with 1:06 to play in the first half. Neither team was able to convert in the final minute of the half, and the same score of 26-26 stood at the intermission.  

 

The same back and forth style of play continued early in the second half without either team able to gain a large advantage. Senior forward Nora Curley converted a pair of free throws with 13:40 remaining in regulation to first tie the game, and then give the Saints a 38-37 lead. After Ithaca regained the lead off a pair of free throws from Erika Steele, Christie Herbst made a key lay-up for the Saints with 8:33 to play to tie the game for the tenth time.  

 

The Saints, though, would go on an unfortunate drought late in the game. They were outscored 12-4 in a span of 4:49 , which opened up a seemingly comfortable 11 point advantage for the Bombers on their home floor with only 2:18 to play at 59-48. Jen Kroll’s team showed no quit though, and the Saints began to battle back.  

 

Kroll, making her first appearance at Ithaca since the 1999-2000 season when she led the Bombers to an Empire 8 championship, watched her team score ten straight points, and with 44 seconds to go, the Saints only trailed by one after Jamie Wolff made a clutch jump shot to make the score 59-58.  

 

After Erin Sanvidge made one free throw with only ten seconds remaining for Ithaca , the score was 60-58. The Saints had a chance to tie the game, getting the ball inside to Nora Curley. Curley’s last second effort was no good, though, and the Bombers were able to escape the Saints comeback bid by the final of 60-58.  

 

Four Saints scored in double digits in the game, as Curley, Wolff, and Sikule all managed to net 11 points while Christie Herbst came off the bench to add ten. Curley had a nice game on the boards, grabbing five rebounds while Sikule played well on the defensive end again for the Saints where she had six steals.  

 

St. Lawrence will try to rebound from the tough loss on Saturday afternoon when the Saints visit Alfred. Game time is set for 1:00pm .

 

 

SIKULE NETS LIBERTY LEAGUE AWARD

Dec. 7: Saints guard Kimberly Sikule was awarded the Liberty League Co-Guard of the Week award for her outstanding efforts in the Saints game versus Hartwick College. She helped lead the Saints to a 71-60 win, their first victory on the road this season.

 

Sikule, a sophomore, scored 19 points, shooting 7-11 from the field. She also grabbed two rebounds and added an assist on the offensive end. However, the guard's efforts were rewarded on the defensive end as well where she totaled 6 steals in 34 minutes of play.

 

Although Sikule only played 18 minutes in the Saints impressive win over Potsdam, she managed to score four points, grab 5 rebounds, add 2 assists and one steal. Sikule and the Saints look to extend their current three game winning streak this weekend as they travel to Ithaca and Alfred.

 

 

SAINTS TOPPLE POTSDAM 71-28

Dec. 5: The St. Lawrence University women’s basketball team extended their winning streak to three games on Monday night, as the Saints toppled the SUNY Potsdam Bears 71-28.

 

The Saints (3-2) executed a great defensive scheme versus the Bears, pressuring the ball and causing turnovers. St. Lawrence had 12 steals from 11 different players, and accumulated four blocks as well. The tough defense allowed the Saints to run the floor, taking advantage with some easy fast break opportunities. St. Lawrence was able to hold Potsdam to 2-19 from the floor in the second half to run away with the victory.

 

The Saints were able to get up on the Bears early in the first half thanks to their long range shooting. The Saints went 7-9 in the first half from behind the arc, with guards Jamie Wolff and Brittany Gaetano combining for five of the three point baskets. Gaetano’s three-pointer just under four minutes into the game gave the Saints an early 10-2 lead.

 

The Bears were able to hang with the Saints early in the first half, keeping the lead around ten. The Saints hot hands kept the shots pouring in, though, as Kate Vlahakis hit a three, followed by a pair from Gaetano to extend the Saints lead to 30-9 with 4:44 to play in the first half. A pair of free throws from Potsdam’s Katie Buzzell cut the deficit to 17 with under a minute to play in the half, but Jamie Wolff canned a jumper from the free throw line with just under three seconds to send the Saints to the locker room with a 38-19 lead.

 

The second half was all St. Lawrence as their defense and hustle took over. The Saints pressure forced the Bears to commit 23 turnovers which led to offensive opportunities. The game was truly a team effort for the Saints, who had six players with 7 points or more.

 

Junior Brittany Gaetano led all scorers in the contest with 13 points. She also grabbed one rebound and had one assist. Wolff added 10 points for the Saints, shooting 4-7 from the floor, while Vlahakis, Christie Herbst, and Katie Seward all chipped in 8 points off the bench. First year student Jenna Krzemien also had an impressive outing, scoring 7 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and contributing one steal.

 

The Bears (1-6) were led by Kelsey Shoen, who went 3-7 from the field for 6 points. She also had five rebounds for Potsdam. Freshman Maureen Curley, the sister of Saints forward Nora Curley, had four points, four rebounds, and an assist versus her older sister’s team.

 

The Saints are back in action this weekend as they travel to Ithaca on Friday and Alfred on Saturday. Tip off times are set for 6:00pm and 1:00pm, respectively.