Women’s Basketball staves off second half comeback against Alfred State

ALFRED, N.Y. --- Carlow University women's basketball defeated Alfred State College 70-64 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Celtics (7-6, 5-1 AMCC) staved off a second half push by the Pioneers (4-12, 3-4 AMCC) and scored 22 points at the foul line in the game.

Emma Aubrey (Bristol, Tenn./Sullivan East HS) led Carlow with 14 points and Nina Cano (Greenville, Pa./Greenville HS/Grove City College) recorded a double-double 13 points and 16 rebounds. Emiley Hillgartner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) contributed 12 points, three assists and two steals, while Sydney Carr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) added 11 points and three assists.

Both teams kept it close throughout the first quarter before Gia Rosensteel (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem HS) landed a three-pointer to put the Celtics ahead 16-12 with a minute remaining. Aubrey sank two free throws that gave Carlow an 18-12 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Celtics went on a 12-4 run late in the second to take a 40-24 lead, but back-to-back treys by the Pioneers cut Carlow's lead to 10. A tip-in from Cano, who hit the subsequent and-one foul shot, put the Celtics up 43-30 at the intermission.

Alfred State outscored Calow 18-7 in the third quarter to trail by two heading into the fourth. A Pioneers layup tied the game at 50-all, and the teams traded marginal leads throughout the quarter. Ahead 62-60 with 3:39 remaining in regulation, the Celtics scored four of their final eight points at the foul line to hang on for the win.

Alfred State held a narrow 48-45 margin in rebounds and outscored the Celtics 44-18 in the paint.

Taylor Benjamin led the Pioneers with a game-high 20 points and 17 rebounds. Sarah Somers added 15 points and 10 rebounds in the effort.

The Celtics travel to Penn State Behrend for a 3 p.m. AMCC game Jan. 20.