Lakewood, N.J. - A
Leah Dollard (So.-Albany, N.Y.) layup with 0:26 remaining proved to be the game-winner as The College of St. Rose rallied from ten down with 4:05 left to stun the host- Lions, 76-74, on the final day of the second annual Georgian Court University Women's Basketball Invite.
After coming out of the first quarter with a slim 18-16 deficit, the Lions turned on the jets to take the second stanza, 19-14, and slide into intermission with a 35-32 surplus. GCU continued to keep the 2-0 Golden Knights at bay, 54-49, upon the conclusion of the third period and increased the lead to a 10-point high-water mark (72-62) in the fourth-and-final frame.
St. Rose proceeded to rattle off an 11-0 run to squeak ahead by one with 48 ticks remaining on the clock. A pair of
Jess Placher free throws at 0:40 inched the Lions' ahead, 74-73, setting the stage for Dollard's gut-wrenching blow to the home team.
Both squads shot similar averages from the floor with GCU besting its foe by a slim 47%-43% margin.
Dollard was one of four Golden Knights to eclipse double-digits in the scoring column, collecting 16 points in 23 minutes off the bench for St. Rose.
Destiny Thompson and
Jaelyn Tweedy also netted 16 for the Lions while Placher popped in 11 points of her own.
Carna Prokic, in her GCU debut, poured in 12 points to go along with five steals and four assists.
The season did not kick off the way Georgian Court had hoped Saturday afternoon as the Lions suffered a 78-60 setback to Merrimack College. The Warriors held GCU to just 12 points in the first quarter, and nine in the second, to coast into intermission with a 50-21 lead. Georgian Court continued to compete, outscoring Merrimack, 39-28, in the second half, but the deficit proved to be too large to overcome on this day.
Three Warriors scored in double figures in the team's opening day victory, with
Lindsay Werner (Jr.-Groton, Mass.) leading the charge with a game-best 20 points. Tweedy enjoyed a stellar season debut for the Lions, netting a team-high 15 points. Thompson followed with 14 while
Catherine Phipps contributed 13 points in her first outing for the royal & gold.
GCU hits the road for the first time this Saturday with a non-conference road trip to Mercy College. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.
