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Adelphi Pulls Out Back-and-Forth Contest with New Haven in OT, 92-86, to Advance in NCAAs

Box Score

Waltham, Mass.  – In their third meeting of the season, the Adelphi University women’s basketball team had the chance to win the series and advance to the NCAA Division II East Region Semifinal. After finishing regulation with a score of 75-75, the Panthers pulled out a win in overtime with a final score of 92-86 Friday afternoon at Bentley University’s Dana Athletic Center. 

Leading the offensive side for Adelphi (23-7) was senior forward Jessica Kitrys with 28 points, shooting 11-17 from the field. Three other Panthers found themselves in double-figures as Sade Jackson and Kelly Mannix accounted for 14 and 15, respectively. Rookie Call Balfour completed a double-double, with 25 points and 13 rebounds in the victory.

Balfour registered the first five points of the game for either team, sparking a 7-2 run to start the half.

New Haven’s Briana Bradford tied the game at the 14:21 mark, making the score 10-10 and initiating momentum change in favor of the Chargers. A Jackson to Kitrys combo at 9:46 decreased the Panther deficit to three, but another Bradford lay-in pushes the Chargers ahead, leading 21-16.

Another Kitrys jumper at the 4:50 mark got the Panthers closer to a lead, trailing by two, 27-29.

Jackson to Mannix for three brings the Brown and Gold within one of New Haven, 32-33. Another shift in momentum, this time in favor of Adelphi at the 1:38 mark as Balfour pulled up for a jumper that pushed the Panthers ahead of the Chargers, 34-33.

A New Haven foul with 36.0 seconds left in the first half sent Kitrys to the line, and she made one of two to tie the game at 35-all.  Jackson pulled up for a quick two points with less than a minute in the half to give the Panthers a two-point lead over the Chargers. Balfour led all players with 15 points and six rebounds for the Panthers. 

The Blue and White came out of the locker room hot, accounting for an 8-0 run within the first two minutes. Jackson got fouled at the 16:22 mark, hitting both of her free throws to even the score at 43.

Kitrys nailed a jumper with 15:30 left to give the Panthers the lead, 45-43.

A jump ball at the 13:14 mark gave New Haven possession as they led the Panthers 52-50. Kitrys drained a triple from downtown to put her team back in front, 54-53, but New Haven answered back seconds later. At 11:17, Balfour hit back to back free throws to lead again, 57-56. A back-and- forth affair for the remainder of the game would end regulation in a tie, 75-75.

Kitrys scored first for Adelphi in overtime, hitting a pair at the charity stripe to put the Panthers up 77-75 with 4:23 to play. Seven missed Charger baskets would get the Brown and Gold to under a minute to play, as the home team led 84-77.  The Panthers were awarded 18 opportunities at the free throw line, where they made 15 in overtime alone, ending the game with a final score of 92-86.

The squad will return to action on Saturday, March 15 at 5:00 p.m. at the Dana Center on the campus of Bentley University. They will face off against #3 LIU Post, who defeated Assumption College earlier Friday afternoon at the buzzer.

New Haven finished its season at 18-10.

At Waltham, Mass. (Dana Center)

ADELPHI 92, NEW HAVEN 86

NEW HAVEN (18-10) -- Briana Bradford 11-21 5-8 28; Aquillin Hayes 10-21 3-7 23; Bria Moore 4-14 6-6 16; Rykema Stone 2-5 4-6 8; Ashley LeBlanc 2-3 0-0 4; Ayana Duncanson 2-4 0-1 4; Elizabeth Cruso 1-2 0-0 3; Audrey Cunningham 0-3 0-0 0; Jasmine Gibson 0-0 0-0 0; Lauren Hebert 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-73 18-28 86.

ADELPHI (23-7) -- Jessica Kitrys 11-17 5-6 28; Calli Balfour 9-15 6-8 25; Kelly Mannix 4-10 5-6 15; Sade Jackson 3-10 8-10 14; Jenna Halaby 2-7 1-1 5; Lauren Nuss 1-5 0-0 3; Ashley Gomez 1-2 0-0 2; Shannon Flynn 0-1 0-0 0; Melanie O'Brien 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-68 25-31 92.

Halftime: A 37-35; 3-point goals--New Haven 4-15 (Bria Moore 2-4; Elizabeth Cruso 1-1; Briana Bradford 1-7; Audrey Cunningham 0-3), Adelphi 5-20 (Kelly Mannix 2-6; Calli Balfour 1-3; Lauren Nuss 1-5; Jessica Kitrys 1-3; Shannon Flynn 0-1; Jenna Halaby 0-1; Sade Jackson 0-1). Fouled out--New Haven-Bria Moore,

Adelphi-None. Rebounds--New Haven 39 (Rykema Stone 9), Adelphi 48 (Calli Balfour 13). Assists--New Haven 12 (Briana Bradford 3; Aquillin Hayes 3), Adelphi 20 (Sade Jackson 9). Total fouls--New Haven 25, Adelphi 19. Technical fouls--None.

NCAA Div. II East Regional Quarterfinal: #2 Adelphi vs. #7 New Haven

Adelphi advances to play LIU Post in NCAA regional semis Sat. at 2 pm