Albany, NY –The Sage Colleges' women's basketball team hosted the Panthers of Purchase College on Saturday afternoon in a Skyline Conference contest at the Kahl Gym. The Gators posted a 68-56 win to improve to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the Skyline Conference, while Purchase drops to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the Skyline.
Sage held a 38-28 halftime lead and despite a few runs by the Panthers, never lost the lead or saw the game tied in the second stanza. For the Gators, sophomore Lea McClain (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) finished with 13 points, while sophomore forward Amie Jefferson (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) added 12 points.
Jefferson also connected for three blocks in the game and is now just three shy of tying the Gator career block record, which is currently held by Kelly Murphy with 65 (1999-2002). Jefferson has 62 career blocks.
Sage's freshman Sara Tironi (Cambridge, NY/ Cambridge Central) also tallied a double-digit scoring performance as she finished with 10 points and was the squad's high rebounder with seven caroms. Sophomore guard Megan Bowman (Saranac, NY/Saranac) also finished with a double-digit scoring effort as she had 10 points with seven assists and four steals.
Purchase was led by the tandem of junior forward Jess Lindsay (Rochester, NY/Irondequoi) and senior forward Jalisa Fields (Bronx, NY/St. Michaels Academy). Lindsay finished with a team and game-high 17 points and made 7-of-8 shots from the line for the Panthers, while Fields netted 15 points and was high rebounder with seven caroms. Both also had four steals each as Purchase had 18 steals in the hard-fought game and forced 25 Sage turnovers.
Sage finished the afternoon with a 40-31 edge on the boards and shot 52.0% from the floor in the second half (13-25).
Sage returns to action on December 4 travelling to Green Mountain College for a 5:30 p.m. non-conference game, while Purchase College host the College of Staten Island on December 3 in a 6 p.m. non-conference game.
