Slow start stifles Women’s Basketball in final regular season game at Alfred State

ALFRED, N.Y. --- Carlow University women's basketball dropped its final regular season game, 65-53, to Alfred State College in an AMCC matchup Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers (6-19, 5-13 AMCC) held the Celtics (12-12, 9-9 AMCC) to just four points in the first quarter, and although Carlow kept pace through the next three it was enough to swing the momentum in Alfred State's favor.

Elena Butler led the Celtics with 18 points and three assists off the bench. Emma Aubrey sank four of Carlow's eight treys on the day to add 12 points, and Sydney Carr contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a steal in the effort.

Alfred State hit a shot just seconds into the game, but neither team scored for the next four minutes before Carr landed a layup to tie the game at 2-all. Carr drained two free throws to put the Celtics ahead 4-2, but the Pioneers scored seven points through the final two minutes of the quarter to lead 11-4 heading into the second.

A trey gave Alfred State a 12-point lead midway through the second quarter as the Pioneers maintained a double-figure lead through most of the first half. Aubrey hit a last minute three-pointer to cut Alfred State's advantage to nine points heading into halftime.

The Pioneers went on a 10-0 run to start the third quarter before Carr broke Carlow's scoring drought with a three-pointer, cutting Alfred State's lead to 16.

Alfred State extended its advantage to 20 and held Carlow scoreless for over two minutes before Butler sank a trey with a minute remaining in the quarter. Butler tallied the final eight points of the quarter and the Celtics trailed 48-36 heading into the fourth.

Two jumpers in a row by Butler and a three-pointer from Shaelyn Clark put the Celtics within 10 points, but it was too little, too late as the Pioneers outscored Carlow 10-7 the final five minutes of the game.

The Celtics scored 14 points off 14 Alfred State turnovers and outscored the Pioneers 22-11 off the bench. The Pioneers held a marginal advantage of 39-37 in rebounds and outscored Carlow 30-14 in the paint.

Taylor Benjamin led the Pioneers with a game-high, double-double 24 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, and Sarah Somers added 20 points.

The Celtics await USCAA Championship Bid Day to see if they secured a spot in the national championship bracket. Register to watch the live Championship Bid Day broadcast here.