Jan. 5, 2008

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Twenty percent shooting from the field and 14 turnovers in the first half hurt the Seawolves as the Stony Brook women's basketball team fell to Vermont, 61-49, in the conference opener for both squads. Stony Brook falls to 5-9, 0-1 in the America East while Vermont improves to 10-4, 1-0.

"We came out extremely flat in the early going and we tried to play catch up again," head coach Michele Cherry said. "If we're to be successful in league play, we must shoot the ball better. It's going to take 40 minutes of quality basketball to win in this league."

After back-to-back jumpers from freshmen Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.), the Seawolves went scoreless for seven minutes before senior Cheri Davis (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) ended the drought with a free throw. Conversely, Vermont used a 13-0 run to open up a nine-point advantage.

A combined four free throws from seniors Aly Young (Lodi, Calif.) and Dana Ferraro (Middlesex, N.J.) cut the deficit at 17-13 with 5:44 remaining in the first half. However, Vermont used a second 13-0 run of the half and took a 17-point half time lead, 33-16.

The Seawolves came out of the locker room with a different mindset in the second half, scoring the first four buckets to cut the lead to nine. A 14-3 run by Stony Brook cut Vermont's lead to 36-30 with 13:10 to play after Young's layup.

Vermont's Courtnay Pilypaitis answered the Seawolves run by herself, hitting on the Catamounts next seven points. Vermont's second half lead was as big as 14 as it went on to win comfortably, 61-49.

Pilypaitis 23 points including 11 from the free throw line were both game highs as she was named America East player of the game. She also added eight rebounds and five assists. Amy Rosenkrantz added 13 points, 12 in the first half.

Young led Stony Brook with 14 points including 8-10 from the line. Ferraro had 10 points and 12 rebounds and was named America East player of the game. Jeter chipped in with seven points and nine rebounds.

Stony Brook travels to Baltimore for a game against UMBC on Saturday, January 12. Tip-off is slated for 4:30 p.m.