HAMDEN, Conn. (January 18, 2025) – Down 12 points with four minutes to go, Mount St. Mary's dug deep and compiled a 12-0 run to force overtime against the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Clutch shots and staunch defense were the difference in the extra session as the Mountaineers won 69-64, taking their third straight victory and handing the Bobcats their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) loss.
The score read 60-48 when the four minute mark showed on the clock.
Gabrielle Kennerly hit a personal 7-0 run to cut the game to 60-55 with 90 seconds to go. After a couple stops,
Giana Hoddinott pulled up for a jumper to trim it down to a single possession. Another stop gave the Mount the ball with a chance to tie.
Jaedyn Jamison grabbed an offensive rebound and found
Jo Raflo, who hit the game-tying three with seconds to spare.
Anna LeMaster began overtime with a three-pointer, but Quinnipiac responded to go up 64-63. Kennerly then drove to the paint for what amounted to be the decisive bucket. Raflo hit a turnaround and LeMaster sent home two foul shots to ice the game.
LeMaster earned her first double-double in a Mount St. Mary's uniform, and first since a game against Navy last season when she was at American. The graduate student tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds. Raflo had 17 points and Kennerly finished with 10.
Quinnipiac began the game on a 9-3 run, but the Mountaineers closed in at the first media by scoring eight of the next 12 points. Stingy defense would dictate the rest of the opening frame as the home Bobcats held a 16-14 edge.
A layup by Jamison and a floater from Raflo gave the Mount its first lead at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter. Clutch shots down the stretch would extend the advantage up to 35-27, before the Bobcats made a last second layup to close out the half.
Despite starting the second half 1-for-9 from the floor, the Mount managed to hang on by drawing trips to the line. At the halfway point of the third they clung to a 41-40 lead. Out of the media, Quinnipiac drilled home a pair of three's to go ahead and force a Mountaineers timeout. The lead would apex at 12 points before the Mount's comeback.
Mount St. Mary's builds a three-game winning streak for the first time this year. The victory propels them to 6-10 for the season and 4-3 for MAAC play. Quinnipiac is now 15-2 and 7-1 in league play. The Bobcats' only other loss came at Miami in non-conference action.
This coming Thursday (Jan. 23), the Mount hosts Siena for a 7 p.m. tipoff from Knott Arena.
