Aiken's 26 Leads Women's Basketball Past Mercy, 61-58
Box Score
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 1, 2010) – C.W. Post held off a second half comeback by Mercy College in the final minutes to claim its first East Coast Conference win of the season, 61-58, Wednesday evening at the Mercy College Gym. Senior guard Janea Aiken (St. Albans, N.Y.) led the charge with a game-high 26 points.
C.W. Post improves to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in ECC action while Mercy dips to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
The first half was back and forth between the two teams as they recorded five lead changes and eight game tie-ups. Aiken carried C.W. Post's offense early as she poured in 13 first half points, including seven from the stripe.
With the game tied for the fifth time at 19-all and 8:17 to play, Aysha Williams gave the lead back to Mercy with a pair of free throws. Joyner tied the game with a jumper at 6:32 and Aiken added a pair of free throws at 5:03 that jump started a 14-4 run that carried through to the end of the half with the Pioneers ahead, 35-25.
The Mavericks began to chip away at the lead with 8:53 left in regulation in the second half when Venesha Hunter scored a layup in the paint to begin a 10-0 run that would tie the game after Aysha Williams converted a pair from the charity stripe at 6:11.
The Pioneers got some help from Aiken who swished a three-pointer at 4:45 to put the visitors ahead for the remainder of the game.
The Mavericks got to within two (60-58) with 20 seconds left to play when Simone Williams scored a layup. But Mercy could not regain possession and instead junior guard Felicia Joyner (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) closed out the game and converted 1 of 2 from the free throw line with one second left on the clock.
Aiken finished the game shooting 6 of 17 from the field and went 12-for-16 at the line. She also added three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the game. Senior forward Anthia Smith (Elmira, N.Y.) had an impressive game with nine points and eight rebounds, two assists along with a block and a steal. Senior forward Alyssa Lombardi (New Fairfield, Conn.) cleaned the glass with a game-high 10 boards.
Jasmine Williams led the Mavericks in scoring with 12 points and eight rebounds. Talia Beaulieu and Aysha Williams each score 10 and Simone Williams added 11.
C.W. Post is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 4 on the road at Dowling for a 1 p.m. tipoff.