Albany, NY –The Sage College women's basketball team hosted the Rams of Farmingdale State College on Monday evening in Kahl Gym. The visiting Rams tallied a 71-68 victory over Sage, snapping the Gators' five-game win streak and giving Sage the team's first conference loss of the year. Sage drops to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in the Skyline, while FSC improves to 6-7 overall and 3-1 in the league.
FSC led 30-26 at the break as senior guard Nicky Young (Queens, NY/John Adams) had eight points with seven rebounds, while junior guard Camille Romero (Queens, NY/Mary Louis Academy) had seven points. Sage held FSC to just 28.9% shooting from the floor in the first half, while the Gators were perfect from the free throw line, making 5-of-5.
Sage's sophomore forward Sara Tironi (Cambridge, NY/Cambridge Central) led the Gators with her 10 points and five rebounds as a starter, while rookie Frankie Pearson (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) added nine points off the bench with two steals and three defensive boards.
Down the stretch, FSC held 10 point lead, 45-35 with 14:09 left to play before the Gators tied the action at 58-58 with 6:28 left to play. Sage led by three (64-61, 3:15), before the Rams tied the action for the seventh time at 64-64, 3:02 as Young made all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.
The two squads exchanged leads before FSC went on the final run of the game, 69-68 at 0:28 as Romero hit a layup and a pair of free throws at 0:12 by sophomore guard Andrea Desvignes (Deer Park, NY/Deer Park) sealed the FSC win.
By game's end, Romero led all players with her 22 points as she made 7-of15 shots from the floor, while Young finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. She handed out four assists with a steal and had 10 defensive boards. Desvignes added 11 points, while senior forward Lushanta Savadel (Bellport, NY/William Floyd) added 10 rebounds with three blocked shots.
Tironi racked up 18 points for the Gators with nine rebounds, while Pearson finished with 16 points. Junior guard Megan Bowman (Dannemora, NY/Saranac) added 11 points with three steals and seven assists. Bowman now has 250 career assists which is No. 4 all-time on the Gator career list. Junior Lea McClain (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) connected for 11 points with eight rebounds as the Gators held a 53-44 edge on the boards and finished the night shooting 81.0% from the free throw line (17-21), while holding the Rams to just 31.4% (22-70) from the floor.
The Gators will be back in action on January 23 travelling to Schenectady, NY for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest at Union College.