Late Surge Lifts NYIT Over Women's Basketball In OT, 76-74

12/6/2011 10:18:00 PM

Box Score
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Dec. 6, 2011) – Senior guard Felicia Joyner (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and junior forward Nicolette Marciniak (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each scored 20 points but C.W. Post could not hang on for the win, instead dropping a 76-74 loss to NYIT in overtime.
 
NYIT improves to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in ECC play while C.W. Post slips to 5-3 overall and 0-2 in the ECC.
 
C.W. Post led by as many as eight points (58-50) with 7:25 to play in the second half before NYIT used a 9-2 run to catch up.  Cierra Baker, who scored a game-high 26 points to go along with 14 rebounds, six assists and five steals in the game, tied the game up at 62 with a made free throw.
 
The Pioneers were back up in the game after a layup from junior center Samantha Kopp (Franklinville, N.Y.) at 1:01.  The game looked like it would end with a win in favor of the Pioneers as Marciniak hit 1-of-2 from the free throw line to give the Pioneers a 2-point lead with 14 seconds on the clock.  Instead, a foul was charged to Kopp with six seconds remaining and Baker sank both attempts.  The Pioneers could not get a shot off before the end of regulation.
 
In the extra frame, Joyner nailed down a long three 11 seconds in.  The Bears responded with a trey from Ritolo at 3:13.  The teams tied the game up twice more, including a layup from Marciniak at the 28-second mark.  NYIT gained possession of the ball and after two missed layup attempts, finally got the game-winning basket to go on a jumper from Rebecca Lynch with two seconds to spare on the game clock.
 
C.W. Post shot .437 (31 of 71) from the field and was 8-for-19 from the free throw line.  Kopp poured in nine points and pulled down 15 rebounds for the Pioneers.  Marciniak added 13 rebounds to her statsheet.
 
NYIT shot .359 (28 of 78) from the floor and was 15-for-25 at the charity stripe.  The Bears also held a 53-50 advantage on the boards.  Ritolo finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
 
C.W Post returns to action to play at Pace University Friday evening at 7 p.m.