BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – Sarah Lawrence College rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to defeat Merchant Marine 79-73 Thursday in front of a packed house on Homecoming weekend at Noyes Court at Campbell Sports Center.
IN SHORT
Sarah Lawrence (1-6, 1-2) def. Merchant Marine (2-1, 1-1), 79-73.
RECAP
Merchant Marine, who came into Thursday with victories over Purchase and Hunter, shot 54-percent in the opening half to hold a 42-32 lead at halftime. Tied 10-10 (13:11), Merchant Marine used a 22-10 spurt and opened up a 15-point lead in the first half, but Sarah Lawrence trimmed the deficit before halftime with five straight points.
The Gryphons responded in an electric atmosphere at Noyes Court, closing the gap to four 2:44 into the period, capped off by a three-point play from
BJ Sanders (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) (44-40). The two squads traded blows throughout the period, with Merchant Marine maintaining its lead. Trailing 58-52 (11:25), the Gryphons scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer from
Malin Segal (Wenham, Mass./Concord Academy), to trim the deficit to one. Following a pair of free throws,
Enike Anyia (Los Angeles, Calif./Wilbraham & Monson Academy) knotted the contest at 60, completing a three-point play.
The Gryphons took their first lead of the contest, since the 16:19 mark of the first half, off a three-pointer from Segal, going up 63-60 (8:24). Merchant Marine regained the lead with a pair of free throws and a layup, but a pair of free throws from Segal gave Sarah Lawrence a one-point cushion (65-64). The Gryphons expanded their lead, using baskets from Anyia and
Isaiah Pean (Spring Valley, N.Y./Dwight-Englewood) (69-64). Sarah Lawrence outscored Merchant Marine 10-9 over the final 6:12, thanks to clutch free shooting, making 8-of-10 down the stretch to secure its first victory of the season.
Credit the Gryphons' defense in the second half, as they limited Merchant Marine, who came into the contest with a point differential of plus-28, to 35-percent shooting while forcing seven turnovers.
With the victory, the Gryphons improve to 6-0 in home openers under head coach
Chris Ehmer.
TOP GRYPHON PERFORMANCES
Sanders scored a game-high 21 points in the win, his second 20-point effort this season, while Anyia put together another strong performance in his rookie season, posting his first-ever double-double, with career-highs in points (19) and rebounds (12).
Segal had his best offensive outing of the year, scoring a season-best 19 points while recording two steals. Pean had a solid evening, posting nine points, six rebounds, four assists and one block.
UP NEXT
Sarah Lawrence returns to action Saturday with a visit to Purchase.
