Riverdale, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Andree DeLeon (Flushing, N.Y.) recorded a career-high 19 points, but the College of Mount Saint Vincent Women's Basketball team had its losing streak extended to eight games on Tuesday night after a hard fought 77-71 loss to Purchase. DeLeon was one of three Dolphin starters to score at least 11 points in the game.
Mount Saint Vincent got off to a quick start against the Panthers and scored the first seven points of the night to open its largest lead of the game. The Dolphins would stay in front of Purchase until the 12:40 mark of the first period when Jessica Perrone knocked down a jumper to push the visitors in front 14-12.
The Perrone bucket would be the first of four lead changes over the final eight minutes of the first half, with the last coming when Andrea Sinaly converted a layup to give the Dolphins at 31-29 lead with 3:34 left before the break. Mount Saint Vincent would get in front by as many as six after the Sinaly basket, but a late push by Purchase sliced the Dolphins' halftime lead to 37-35.
The Panthers would pick up in the second half right where they left off in the first, going on to score the first eight points of the period to open up a lead they would not give back. After opening a 43-37 lead in the opening minutes of the second half, the Mount would battle back to tie the score at 53-53 on a Tanishia Montague (Brooklyn, N.Y.) fast break basket, but it would not be able to get back out in front.
Mount Saint Vincent would be able to get its deficit down to a single point twice in the last six minutes of the game, but Purchase would hang on and make four straight free-throws down the stretch t secure the victory.
Purchase shot 42.5-percent for the game overall and although it only outscored the Mount by one from the free-throw line, the Dolphins missed 12 attempts from the stripe and shot just 47.8-percent from the line overall in the game.
The Panthers used a balanced scoring attack that saw five players score in double-figures led by 16 points from Rachel Perrone and MaryAlice Plamer. Palmer finished with a double-double after securing 12 rebounds and also handed out six assists.
Mount Saint Vincent shot under 40-percent from the field for the 20th time this season after shooting 33.3-percent on Tuesday. The Dolphins did knock down six three-pointers on the night, but went 11-for-23 from the free-throw line.
DeLeon finished the night 7-for-16 from the field and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line on her way to her career-high 19 points. She also pulled down six rebounds and notched another career-high with seven assists. She also blocked a pair of shots for the Dolphins.
Sinaly matched her career best scoring output against Purchase with 11 points and also totaled six rebounds for the Mount. Sarah Kluth (Lynbrook, N.Y.) chipped in with 12 points, three assists and three steals, while Kara McNish (Hawthorne, N.J.) totaled four blocked shots and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The loss drops Mount Saint Vincent to 6-15 overall on the season and to 4-11 in league play. The Dolphins will look to get back in the win column on Thursday when they travel to Bard. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.