EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 1, 2021) – For the first time since the 2000-2001 season, the Mount St. Mary's women's basketball team secured a Northeast Conference regular season title. The Mount (15-4, 14-2 NEC) clinched the top spot with a 56-43 victory over Saint Francis University (12-8, 10-4 NEC) in Loretto Tuesday.

Monday's triumph marks the 10^th regular season crown for the program since they joined the NEC in 1989. That includes a run of seven straight from 1989-1996.

The most profilic offense in the NEC was forced to win with defense, as the Red Flash – second in the conference but still competing for a tournament spot – held the Mount to 35.4 percent from the floor. The 13-point win was aided by the visitors forcing 21 turnovers with 10 steals, grabbing 32 rebounds and blcocking two shots. Rebecca Lee pulled in nine rebounds, and Michaela Harrison swiped the basketball five times. 

Offensive sparks did come from Aryna Taylor, whose early first half success led to her tying a career-high with 19 points. Kendall Bresee grinded out 39 minutes of play and reached her season average of 15 points.

The two sides battled evenly in the first quarter, with the Mount holding the lead for the bulk of the period. Taylor's hot start carried the team with 12 points, hitting a trio of triples plus an old-fashioned three-point play for good measure. The Mountaineers led 15-13 after the quarter.

A run during the first part of the second quarter signaled another possible runaway for the Mount, going up nine on a Lee layup with 3:54 remaining. But the Red Flash rallied, closing the half on an 8-2 run to pull the contest back within a possession.

Bresee got the second half off to a good start with a steal and score. SFU hung around and a layup by Haley Thomas got her side within a point at 31-30. For two tense minutes, neither team could get on the board until Bresee drew a foul and converted two at the charity stripe. Although the Mount did not get a field goal for the rest of the quarter, they made five more attempts at the line and made them all.

Leading 40-32 heading into the final frame, Bresee broke the icy streak with a layup to push the Mount's edge over double figures. The offense finally hit their stride, going 6-for-11 shooting. The lead would go as high as 18 and never got back down to single digits as Mount St. Mary's cruised to the title.

Before the Mount pursues their eighth tournament title and a trip to the NCAA tournament, they'll have to wrap up the regular season. The last two games will make an impact on the tournament field as they travel to face Wagner March 4^th and 5^th. The Seahawks are tied with the Red Flash for second at 10-4, and behind them, Fairleigh Dickinson (10-6) and Sacred Heart (8-6) are battling for spots as well.

Mount St. Mary's adds one more home contest, hosting the No. 4 seed in the NEC Semifinals on March 10^th in Emmitsburg.