Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Trailing by five, 54-49, entering the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, the Merrimack College women's basketball team proceeded to outscore visiting Long Island University, 20-12, in the final frame to emerge with a 69-66 come-from-behind Northeast Conference (NEC) victory at Hammel Court. The win marked Merrimack's first of the season, improving the Warriors' NEC record to 1-6. LIU dropped to 3-8 in conference play.
Seniors
Alyssa Casey and
Mayson Kimball combined for 12 of the 20 Merrimack points in the final quarter, leading the comeback effort. Casey scored seven consecutive points in the quarter, including a 3-pointer with 5:40 to play, that gave the Warriors the lead for good at 59-58. Kimball finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, her best offensive performance of the year, while Casey and junior
Kate Mager also finished in double figures with 10 and 13 points, respectively.
The triumph also marked the first victory on the Merrimack sidelines for head coach
Kelly Morrone.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 69, Long Island 66
Records: Merrimack (1-6, 1-6 NEC) | Long Island (3-8, 3-8 NEC)
Location: North Andover, Mass. | Hammel Court
The Visuals
Alyssa Casey's fourth-quarter 3-pointer game Merrimack the lead for good.
Kate Mager's touch-pass to Mayson Kimball capped an 11-2 Merrimack run in the final quarter.
Kimball's ninth and final field goal of the night proved crucial in the Warriors' comeback win.
Rapid Recap
- Kimball scored the first seven points of the game for Merrimack, but LIU used a 9-0 first-quarter run to snatch an 18-9 lead with 2:30 left in the frame. Sophomores Jayme DeCesare and Alana Fursman answered the bell for the hosts, hitting consecutive triples to bring Merrimack within a possession, 18-15, after 10 minutes of play
- A back-and-forth atmosphere played out the second quarter. The Warriors were either tied or within one point of the Sharks on six separate occasions in the second, but could not retake the lead. After a jumper in the paint for sophomore Kaylee Thomas made it a one-point game at 33-32, the visitors scored the last four points of the half to lead, 37-32, through 20 minutes
- Mager's 3-pointer at the 7:21 mark of the third gave Merrimack its first advantage since the opening quarter, 40-39. That shot was part of an 8-2 Merrimack run that left the Warriors in front by four, 45-41, at the midway point of the quarter. Facing a 47-43 deficit, LIU closed the third on an 11-2 run to hold the lead (54-49) going to the final frame
- LIU's advantage grew to as many as seven at the start of the fourth, but an 11-2 Merrimack run gave the Warriors the lead back. Mager started the run with a trey, followed by Casey's seven straight points and Kimball ended the run with a bucket. With 5:07 to play, Merrimack held a 61-58 edge
- Field goals from DeCesare and Kimball proved crucial down the stretch to keep the Warriors ahead. Up three, 69-66, with six seconds left, the Sharks had a chance to force overtime, but a potential game-tying 3-pointer was released after the final horn sounded
Notes and Numbers
- Merrimack improved to 2-1 in its all-time series against LIU. Tuesday was the first-ever win for the Warriors on homecourt against the Sharks
- Kimball netted a season high of 20 points, the fourth 20-point game of her career. She made a season-best nine field goals while leading the team in rebounds (5) and steals (3). She has scored in double figures in three of her last four games
- The fourth-quarter difference: Merrimack's defense limited LIU to 2-of-14 shooting in the final quarter, and forced five turnovers in the last 10 minutes
- All four of Mager's field goals came from beyond the arc; Tuesday was the third time this season and 17th time in her career that she has made at least four in a game
- The Warriors set season highs in field goal percentage (.466), 3-point percentage (.407), 3-pointers made (11) and assists (18)
Up Next
The Warriors and Sharks play once more tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. at Hammel Court.
