Riverdale, N.Y. – Led by 17 points from junior Kelly Fraser (Staten Island, N.Y.) and 11 points and seven assists from freshman Christina Barone (Staten Island, N.Y.), the College of Mount Saint Vincent Women's Basketball team opened the 2013-14 season with a 77-71 win over Worcester State on Sunday afternoon. Sunday's win was the first in the season's first contest since a 60-57 triumph over Lehman to start the 2010-11 campaign.
After the two teams exchanged scores in the first half minute on Sunday, the Dolphins ripped off a 17-0 run covering 6:32 to open a commanding 19-2 advantage just 6:59 into the contest. Theresa Carey (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) accounted for five points in that run for the Dolphins, including her first three-pointer of the season.
Worcester State would snap its scoreless drought with a Kiesha Jones three-pointer, but could not get its deficit under double-figures until a Meaghan Burns fast break bucket cut it to 22-13 with 8:18 left before halftime. The Burns bucket was part of a 40-18 closing run over 12:59 that saw the Lancers take a 42-37 lead into halftime.
The Lancers shot 10-for-19 overall over the run and outscored the Mount 17-1 at the free-throw line to jump in front. The Lancers forced seven turnovers and were led by Julie Frankian who scored 15 points over that span.
Both teams shot better than 40-percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, but the visitors had a 17-2 scoring advantage in the first half from the free-throw line. Frankian led all scorers at the half with 15 points, while Carey paced the Dolphins with nine points.
Worcester State would spread its lead out to seven points at the start of the second half, before the Mount rallied with a 15-6 stretch to pull in front 54-52 on a Fraser lay-in with 12:09 to play in regulation. The lead would grow to four on a Brooke West (Hamilton, N.J.) fast break basket, before a mini 5-1 run from the Lancers capped by a Cheyenne Jennings triple tied the scored for the sixth time of the day with 8:51 left on the clock.
Neither team could move in front by more than a possession until a Fraser jumper with 2:40 left pushed the Dolphins in front 69-64. The Lancers would cut their deficit to two points in the final 1:13, but the Mount knocked in four free-throws down the stretch to score the non-conference victory.
After playing just three minutes in the first half, Fraser tallied 15 points after the break for the Dolphins on her way to matching the game-high in scoring. She added five rebounds and a block to the winning effort. Senior Tanisha Montague (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 10 points and four assists on the day.
Barone scored in double-figures in her collegiate debut and led all players in the game with seven helpers. She rounded out a strong day with four rebounds and a pair of steals. Brittany Lee (Newton, N.J.) totaled seven points, six rebounds and a team-high five steals, while Carey and West each recorded nine points.
Frankian finished with 17 points for the Lancers to lead four players in double-figures and closed out a big day with team-highs in rebounds with 14 and assists with six. Jennings totaled 14 points, seven boards and five steals for Worcester State.
Mount Saint Vincent finished the game with seven more field goals then Worcester State, overcoming a 23-15 scoring disadvantage at the free-throw line. The Dolphins shot 42.6-percent from the floor overall on Sunday and forced 27 turnovers leading to 22 points.
At 1-0 overall on the season, Mount Saint Vincent will play its first road tilt of the season on December 2 when it travels to cross-town rival Lehman. Tip-off with the Lightning is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.