NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Result
Sunday, December 30, 2007
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Ashley Finnegan |
Mercy College Women's Basketball Defeated by North Carolina Central, 76-49
DURHAM, NC - Freshman forward Ashley Finnegan (Worcester, MA) recorded her first career double-double, posting career and game highs of 26 points and 15 rebounds, but the Mercy College women's basketball team fell by a score of 76-49 at Division I foe North Carolina Central on Sunday. The Mavericks are now 2-9 on the year, while the Eagles improved to 2-15.
Finnegan connected on 12-of-19 from the field and 2-of-3 at the free throw line, while picking up six of her rebounds on the offensive end. Freshman forward Delmara Reece (Yonkers, NY) added nine points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, and junior guard Jazmin Steele (Stoughton, MA) pitched in nine points and four boards.
North Carolina Central's Jennifer Hukill tied for a game-high with Finnegan, scoring 26 points on 10-of-23 from the floor, including 6-of-15 from three-point distance. Jori Nwachukwu recorded a double-double for the Eagles, netting 15 points and hauling in 10 rebounds.
The Eagles opened up an early 14-8 lead, but Mercy pulled within one at 16-15 after a basket and a free throw from Reece. North Carolina Central built the margin back to seven, 28-21, and stretched it to as many as 12 at 37-25 with 2:41 left in the first half. The Mavericks then closed out the period with layups from Steele and Finnegan to trim the margin to single digits at the break, 37-29.
Finnegan opened the second frame with a jumper, but the Eagles erupted for a 32-9 run over a span of 12 minutes to build their largest lead of the contest, 69-40, and put the game out of reach.
The Mavericks will be back in action again on Saturday, January 5, when they resume East Coast Conference (ECC) play at home versus Adelphi beginning at 1:00 p.m.
