Brooklyn, N.Y. –Freshman Sarah Kluth (Lynbrook, N.Y.) and sophomore Andree DeLeon (Flushing, N.Y.) recorded career-highs but the College of Mount Saint Vincent Women's Basketball team dropped its fifth straight game after a 66-57 loss at NYU-POLY. Kluth led the Dolphins on the afternoon with 17 points.
The Dolphins jumped out to an early three point advantage in the contest, after a Kerry O'Connor (Bethpage, N.Y.) basket and free-throw. That advantage would prove to be the Mount's largest of the afternoon.
The Blue Jays would respond with the next eight points to move in front and would allow the Dolphins to tie the score just twice the rest of the first half. NYU-POLY would open its largest lead of the half after a Tabitha Larsen triple moved it in front by eight with 3:11 left before the half. The Mount answered with an 8-2 run to close the half and move to within two points at 28-26 heading into the intermission.
The Dolphins hot 33.3-percent from the floor in the opening period, with Kluth leading the way at the break with seven points. The Mount Saint Vincent held the Blue Jays to just 30-percent shooting in the first half, but they forced 13 Mount Saint Vincent turnovers that resulted in 12 points.
The Dolphins would gain their first lead since 3-0 early on in the second half following a DeLeon jumper and a pair of free-throws from Kluth. The lead would last just one possession after Larsen nailed a triple to move the Blue Jays back out in front by two points.
The Dolphins would get a one point lead back at the 15:34 mark of the second half after a Bragilyn Ates (Yonkers, N.Y.) three pointer. Following the Ates trey, NYU-POLY used an 18-9 run over nearly 11 minutes to take an eight point lead late in regulation time. NYU-POLY would gain its largest lead of the contest in the final half minute when Margaux Pickell hit a pair of free-throws.
The Dolphins shot just 31.8-percent from the floor on the afternoon, but went 5-for-7 from behind the arc. Kluth and DeLeon combined for 11 of the Mount's 21 field goals on the day and for 32 of the Mount's 57 points. Kluth finished 6-for-9 from the floor for her 17 points and a perfect 2-for-2 from long distance. She also grabbed four rebounds and swiped five steals for the Dolphins.
DeLeon went 5-for-20 from the field and converted the first three-pointer of her career. She also grabbed four boards and handed out a pair of assists. Kara McNish (Hawthorne, N.J.) added another strong effort for the Mount with eight points and 10 rebounds.
NYU-POLY was paced by a double-double from Pickell who scored 17 points and added a game-high 17 rebounds. Larsen scored 18 points for the Blue Jays, going 6-for-7 from behind the arc. Kristen Leitheuser contributed a game-high point total with 22.
The loss drops Mount Saint Vincent to 1-5 overall on the season and to 0-3 in Skyline Conference play. The Dolphins will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday night when they travel to Sage. Tip-off with the Gators is slated for 6:00 p.m.