Nov 23, 2013
Danbury, Conn. - The visiting Trinity College Bantams suffered a heartbreaking loss, 68-60, in overtime against the Western Connecticut State University Colonials in women's basketball action this afternoon at Feldman Arena. Trinity falls to 1-3 with its third consecutive setback and the Colonials improve to 4-0. Western Connecticut junior Caroline Brasa (East Hartford, Conn.) hit four free throws in the final minute of regulation to close a four-point deficit and force overtime at 54-54. The Colonials then hit 10 more free throws in the extra period.
Senior forward Shantel Hanniford (Nantucket, Mass.) recorded a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Sophomore guard Christina Raiti (Plainview, N.Y.) scored 14 points and senior Taylor Murtaugh (New York, N.Y.) added 11 points. Senior guard Moriah Sweeney (Ramsey, N.J.) pulled down 10 rebounds for the Bantams. Freshman Colleen Cosker (East Hartford, Conn.) scored a game-high 16 points and handed out six assists to lead Western Connecticut, followed by 14 points from senior Sciarra Brandt (Thomaston, Conn.) and 13 from Brasa. Brasa's seven rebounds were the most by a Colonial.
The game was closely contested for nearly the first 30 minutes. Trinity trailed, 34-31, with just under 11 minutes left in the second half but scored eight straight points on a two-pointer and a three-pointer by Raiti and a trey by junior Taylor Higgins (Merrick, N.Y.). Western Connecticut came right back and took a 40-39 lead after a pair of free throws by Brandt. Trinity used another 8-0 run to turn a 50-46 deficit into a 54-50 lead on two baskets and a free throw by Murtaugh and another three-pointer by Raiti. Brasa hit a pair of free throws with 51 ticks remaining and sent the game to overtime when she hit two more with four seconds left. Hanniford and senior guard Abigail Hancock (Casco, Maine) scored early buckets for Trinity in overtime but a 10-2 run in the final two minutes by the Colonials was the difference.
The game was closely contested for nearly the first 30 minutes. Trinity trailed, 34-31, with just under 11 minutes left in the second half but scored eight straight points on a two-pointer and a three-pointer by Raiti and a trey by junior Taylor Higgins (Merrick, N.Y.). Western Connecticut came right back and took a 40-39 lead after a pair of free throws by Brandt. Trinity used another 8-0 run to turn a 50-46 deficit into a 54-50 lead on two baskets and a free throw by Murtaugh and another three-pointer by Raiti. Brasa hit a pair of free throws with 51 ticks remaining and sent the game to overtime when she hit two more with four seconds left. Hanniford and senior guard Abigail Hancock (Casco, Maine) scored early buckets for Trinity in overtime but a 10-2 run in the final two minutes by the Colonials was the difference.