WOMEN'S HOOPS SWARM NEW ROCHELLE 73-56

Old Westbury wins third straight

The SUNY College at Old Westbury women's basketball team won for the third consecutive game Saturday afternoon with a 73-56 non-conference road victory over the New Rochelle Blue Angels from the Wellness Center.  The victory improves the team's record to 4-4 on the season while New Rochelle fell to 3-9.

New Rochelle broke the scoring ice with an Elizabeth Johnston layup in the opening minute.  Old Westbury answered with a game-tying Olivia Ilardi layup, followed by Nikki Alexander's go ahead layup that gave the Panthers the lead for good.  Old Westbury held a 35-22 advantage at halftime and went up by as many as 17 points (32-15) late in the half.   

New Rochelle stormed out of the second-half gates to trim the lead to 36-32 on a 10-1 run over the opening 3:47.  However, Old Westbury seized momentum with a 33-8 run from 14:44 to 1:15 for a commanding 71-52 lead.    

Old Westbury's bench outscored the Blue Angels' reserves 44-24 for the game, anchored by DeAndra Scott's team-high 17 points.  Scott also pulled down 10 rebounds to post her third double-double of the season, in addition to recording two blocks and two assists.  Clarissa Gallagher followed with 14 points off the bench and Raven Pentz added 10.  Antoinette Jolly chipped in with eight points, nine rebounds and four steals.   

Jasmine Brandon paced New Rochelle with a game-best 18 point- 12 rebound-six steal performance.  Alyssa Pechin (14 points) and Holly Cammarota (11 points) both scored in double-figures.

Old Westbury won the boards battle, 51-43, of which 24 offensive rebounds were turned into 18 second chance points.  Old Westbury scored 42 points after forcing a season-high 39 turnovers out of New Rochelle.  For the game, Old Westbury shot 38.8 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free-throw line.  New Rochelle connected on 32.2 percent from the floor, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 64 percent from the line. 

RUTGERS-CAMDEN RAPTORS UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS:  Old Westbury returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 22) against the Rutgers-Camden Raptors in non-conference road action.  Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in Camden, New Jersey.