DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Opening the week on the road, the Queens College women's basketball team traveled to Dobbs Ferry to face Mercy University Mavericks inside the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center in East Coast Conference action Wednesday evening.
Junior forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) recorded her ECC-leading 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while junior guard
Daja White (Queens, N.Y.) added 15 points to pace the Knights offensively.
Despite a strong third-quarter surge that saw Queens pull within four points, a late Mavericks run stalled the comeback as Mercy held on for a 76–60 victory.
GAME RECAP
The opening quarter featured a back-and-forth battle, with Queens staying within striking distance through the under-five media timeout, trailing just 9–8 at the 4:35 mark.
Mercy, however, closed the quarter on an 11–0 run to take a 20–8 lead after one.
Junior forward
Yinka Kruyswijk (Amsterdam, Netherlands) snapped the Knights' scoring drought early in the second quarter, but Mercy maintained control and extended its lead to 24–10 with 6:23 remaining.
Rookie guard
Eva Gitto (Albany, N.Y.) sparked a response at the free-throw line, igniting a 10–0 Queens run that cut the deficit to 24–20 with 1:42 left. Mercy answered late, closing the half on a 9–2 run to carry a 31–22 advantage into the break.
In the second quarter, Queens shot 50.0 percent from the field while holding Mercy to 15.3 percent shooting, outscoring the home team 14–11 to cut the deficit to single digits.
Awaka opened the half with six straight points as the Knights trimmed the deficit to 34–28 by the 7:57 mark.
After Mercy briefly pushed its lead back to double digits, contributions from Awaka, White, and sophomore forward
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.) fueled a 13–6 run to end the quarter, pulling Queens within 47–43 entering the final 10 minutes.
For the second straight period, Queens outscored Mercy 21–16, shooting 52.6 percent from the field while holding the Mavericks to 37.5 percent.
The comeback attempt ultimately fell short, as Mercy outscored Queens 29–17 in the fourth quarter to secure the 76–60 decision.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Awaka recorded her 11th double-double of the year with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds to go with one steal.
- White recorded 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
- Ukaegbu tallied eight points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and one assist.
- Rookie guard Enise Hodzic (Queens, N.Y.) notched seven points, three assists, five assists, and one steal.
NEXT GAME:
Head coach
Travis Ponton and the Knights return home on Saturday, January 24, welcoming St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans to Fitzgerald Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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