BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Concordia College (N.Y.) women's basketball team began its home slate on Wednesday evening, matching its highest point total inside the Meyer Athletic Center over the last decade in an 84-82 victory over visiting Mercy College.
NOTES
• Concordia improves to 1-2.
• Mercy drops to 1-2.
• It is the third time the Clippers have scored 84 points at home since the 2008-09 season, the most during that stretch, previously doing so against Post on Jan. 15, 2013 and Braircliffe College on Nov. 24, 2008.
• The 32 field goals made matches contests against Philadelphia University/Jefferson (Feb. 4, 2017), Mercy (Feb. 21, 2009) and Braircliffe College for the most over the last decade.
• The Clippers' 24 assists is the second most in a game since the 2008-09 campaign.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Junior guard Nicole Nicholson (Staten Island, N.Y.) matched her career-high with a team-best 23 points with four steals.
• Junior center Amiya Rankins (Somerset, N.J.) chipped in 17 points with a block and steal.
• Sophomore guard Jordyn Hornbuckle (Hopkinsville, Ky.) logged her first double-double of the season with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Sophomore guard Cameron Corbett (Staten Island, N.Y.) set a pair of career highs with seven assists and four steals.
• For Mercy, Amber Brown scored 24 points with 13 rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Following a Mercy basket to start the contest, Concordia scored 10-straight with Hornbuckle, Rankins, Corbett and sophomore guard Saundra Cleckley (Queens, N.Y.) all contributing on the run to hold a 10-2 lead with 5:06 remaining in the quarter. The Mavericks ended the run with a pair of free throws and basket before a sophomore forward Sabrina Clement (Queens, N.Y.) and Cleckley layup on back-to-back possessions sparked a 9-0 spurt to extend the separation to double-digits at 19-6 with 2:42 left. Mercy ended the frame with back-to-back triples to make it 19-12.
• Concordia scored on the opening possession of the second quarter via a triple Nicholson, with both sides going back-and-forth without either side scoring consecutive baskets until a late 7-0 Clippers' run starting on triple from freshman guard Sara Hopkins (Mountain Top, Pa.) created a 15-point lead at 41-26 with 1:19 remaining in the half. Both sides added jump shots to their totals before the quarter ended to create a 43-28 halftime score.
• Mercy began the second half with back-to-back triples, cutting the separation to single digits at 43-34. The Clippers recreated the 15-point cushion off back-to-back threes to make it 51-36, extending the separation to a game-high 16 at 65-49 before a pair of free throws and layup for the Mavericks made it 65-53 going into the final 10 minutes.
• The visitors opened the fourth quarter with five-straight points to make it 65-59. Concordia was held without back-to-back baskets for the entire frame but managed to keep it a two-possession contest or higher until a buzzer-beater three by Mercy created the final score.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• The Clippers converted on 32-74 shots, going 6-14 from three-point territory and 14-25 from the free throw line.
• Mercy finished 25-59 from the field, 6-20 from distance and 26-38 from the free throw line.
• Concordia dished out 24 assists versus 16 for the visitors.
• Concordia committed 11 turnovers, resulting in 16 points for Mercy. The Mavericks committed 13 turnovers, leading to 14 points.
• Both sides recorded 44 rebounds.
• Concordia' bench scored 17 points while Mercy got 27 from its bench.
• Concordia recorded nine steals with four blocks while Mercy stole the ball eight times with three blocks.
UP NEXT
The Clippers hit the road to take on Pace University on Saturday, Nov. 17.
For the latest on Concordia athletics, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.