(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson College women's basketball team rallied from an 11-point, second half deficit to defeat Farmingdale State 66-57 in the championship game of the 2010 Days Inn Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
The Rams jumped out to an early 10-2 lead and held a slim, 32-31 advantage at halftime behind 12 first-half points from Nikita Green. The Red Devils battled back to take a five point lead with 6:27 to play in the half. Farmingdale answered and Green hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Rams a one point edge at the break.
The Rams started strong again to open the second half, stretching the margin to 11 with 11:53 to play in the game. A tenacious defensive effort led the Devils on an 11-0 run tie the game, 44-44, with eight minutes on the clock. The Red Devils continued to roll behind their defense and up-tempo attack to pull in front, 60-50, with 2:59 remaining.
The Devils used solid free throw shooting, hitting 8-of-10 in the final minutes to secure the win and the tournament title.
Senior Carole Dempsey (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill) was named the Tournament MVP, scoring a tourney-high 27 points, one shy of her career-best. She added 11 rebounds and was perfect from the line, hitting 7-of-7 on the day. Classmate Alesha Sisco (Effort, Pa./Blair Academy) was also named to the All-Tournament team, adding a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She went 8-for-10 from the line and added a pair of steals and two assists.
Sophomore Lindsey Finnerty (Tenafly, N.J./Tenafly) added 10 points, hitting 8-of-10 free throws as well. Taylor Miller (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) went 4-for-5 from the line and dished out three assists.
Green finished with 16 points to lead Farmingdale. Natasha Smalls earned All-Tournament team honors, scoring 13 points and controlling 12 rebounds. Jeannette Zibizarreta earned All-Tourney honors, adding 10 points and four rebounds on Sunday.
The Red Devils improve to 2-0 on the season. They are home again on Tuesday, opening Centennial Conference play against Swarthmore College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.