Flushing, N.Y. - The Queens College women's basketball team turned a eminent defeat into a victory on Saturday evening, keyed by a second-half surge, as they defeated Bridgeport in overtime, 60-53. The team is 7-3 on the season.
The Knights stumbled out of the gate, falling behind early with their shooting as cold as the weather outside Fitzgerald Gym. The Purple Knights built a 10-point lead when Jennifer Kucukkaya made a three-pointer with just 9:51 remaining to make the score 14-4 for Bridgeport. Without two key scorers, Madison Rowland and Kristen Korzevinski, who were lost due to injury, points would be at a premium for QC as they struggled to score in the first half, trailing 28-13 at the break.
The second half saw Queens increase the defensive pressure, paying dividends by switching from man-to-man to zone and back, causing havoc for the Purple Knights, and helping to methodically erode the 15-point, halftime deficit.
MacKenzie Rowland opened the scoring in the half with a put back off her own miss. From there, Joya McFarland scored the next four points QC was within single-digits, trailing 28-19. With 12:24 left on the clock, Twanda Holder found Elisabeth Gully for a jumper that got the Knights within seven, 34-27.
Later in the half, Bridgeport was up ten, 45-35, when QC turned up the defense and erased the deficit. Kasheema Besley found Marie Byrnes for three. Then McFarland connected with Gully again, to put QC down five. Queens got within two, at 48-46, when Gully found Rowland for the bucket.
The Knights took their first lead of the game with 1:22 remaining in regulation. Off a Bridgeport miss, McFarland hooked up with Rowland for a jumper that put QC ahead, 53-52. The Purple Knights tied the score with 0:18 left and the game ended regulation knotted at 53-53.
In overtime, the Knights blanked Bridgeport 7-0, to earn the win. Rowland scored four points, Gully accounted for two and Byrnes made a free throw.
The Queens College women's basketball team returns to action on Friday, December 20, when they host Roberts Wesleyan in Fitzgerald Gym.
