Porcasi Nets Career-High 27 But Women's Basketball's Streak Halted at Old Westbury

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — Reigning Skyline Rookie of the Week Victoria Porcasi (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) led all scorers with 27 and junior Erica Eddy (Glendale, N.Y./Christ the King) swiped a career-high eight steals, but the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's basketball team ultimately fell 71-58 to SUNY College at Old Westbury in a Skyline Conference matchup on Tuesday night.

The Basics

• Final Score: Old Westbury 71, St. Joseph's 58
• Records: Old Westbury (11-3, 6-1 Skyline), St. Joseph's (5-11, 4-4 Skyline)
• Date: January 12, 2016
• Location: Old Westbury, N.Y.
• Arena: Clark Athletic Center
• Starters:
  • St. Joseph's: Eddy (G), Marino (G), Simon (G), Porcasi (G), Candelaria (F)
  • Old Westbury: Ilardi (G), Pentz (G), Robinson (G), McNeill (F), Barnes (F)

Turning Point

The Panthers used a 12-2 run to close out the first quarter maintaining a double-digit advantage for most of game. A Victoria Porcasi layup with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter, cut a deficit that balloned as large as nine back to single digits, 46-37. But the Panthers erupted with 13 consecutive points in a five-minute span to secure a commanding 59-37 advantage with 8:24 left to play.

How it Happened

• Old Westbury closed a low scoring first stanza on a 6-0 spurt capped off by Crystal Barnes' layup with 28 seconds remaining, giving the Panthers a 20-7 advantage after one period.
• In the second, Destiny Marino's free throw cut the lead back to single digits at the 8:35 mark, but the Panthers asserted themselves with a 7-0 run to widen the gap to 27-12. The Lady Bears scored the last four points of the half to inch closer, but entered the lockers with ground to make up trailing 40-20.
• Victoria Porcasi opened scoring in the third quarter with six straight points, connecting from downtown and then converting on a three-point play. Teammate Erica Eddy cemented the 9-0 run with a triple at the 7:42 mark, bringing St. Joseph's back within striking distance at 40-29.
• The Panthers withstood the Lady Bears' surge and closed the third period on a 6-0 run to move up 52-37 with one quarter to play.
• Seven consecutive points to start the period completed a 13-0 run and saw Old Westbury reclaim a 20-plus point advantage. The Lady Bears continued to show life, closing the gap to 11 at one point, but ultimately fell 71-58.

For the Lady Bears

• Freshman Victoria Porcasi led all scorers with 27 points, her second consecutive 20-plus point performance and fourth of the season. The second leading free-throw shooter in the league went 12-of-14 from the charity stripe.
• Senior Erica Eddy scored nine points and pestered the opposing offense with a career-high eight steals, almost tripling her previous high of three.
• Sophomore Destiny Marino compiled her second consecutive double-double and fifth of the season with a 10-point, 10-rebound performance.

For the Panthers

• Jasmine Robinson led the Panthers with 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting from the field. The guard added seven thefts and a game-high six assists.
• Raven Pentz netted 14 on four three pointers, adding three boards, three steals and a pair of helpers.
• Crystal Barnes controlled the glass with a game-best 14 rebounds in addition to eight points.

Inside the Box Score

• The Lady Bears were held to a season-low 23.4 percent shooting, connecting on just 15 of their 64 attempts. Old Westbury connected at a more efficient 42.3 percent (30-71).
• The Panthers dominated under the rim, out-rebounding St. Joseph's 58-44 and outscoring them 44-14 in the paint.

The Bear Facts

• Eddy's eight thefts falls one shy of the SJC single-game record of nine, held by Ashley McQuillan vs Southern Maine CC in Jan. 2010.
• The Lady Bears had their season-high four-game winning streak snapped. Three of the four victories were conference tilts.
• The Lady Bears' Skyline record falls to .500 at 4-4 and they remain fifth in the standings, while Old Westbury holds steady in second place at 6-1.
• St. Joseph's falls to 9-13 all-time against the Panthers and succumbs to a season sweep following a 86-68 loss at The Hill Center on December 2.

Next up for the Lady Bears

The Lady Bears begin a three-game home stand at The Hill Center on Saturday, January 16, meeting borough rivals Brooklyn College for a 2 p.m. non-conference tilt. Live stats and video will be available on SJCBears.com.