PATCHOGUE, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence women's basketball team used a strong second half to secure a win to open Skyline play. The Gryphons defeated the hosting Golden Eagles of St. Joseph's Long Island by a score of 69-64 thanks to a pair of 20-point performers.

Notable Performers

• Gabby Hudson scored 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the win
• Sarah Theriault recorded 21 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double
• Colleen Coughlin distributed six assists while scoring six points and swiping three steals

How it Happened

Theriault started early, opening the night's scoring with a second-chance score to put the Gryphons ahead 2-0. Jade Ling Eng-Stewart joined her classmate for another early score before Coughlin found Theriault for a triple to put the Gryphons up 7-2. The teams traded scores before a nine-point swing in favor of the hosts gave the Golden Eagles a four-point lead with just over a minute to play. After a rebound by Hudson with 20 seconds remaining in the frame, Eng-Stewart found teammate Audrey Mattison for a long-range connection that brought the Gryphons within one as the first quarter came to a close.

The second quarter saw the hosts extend the lead, despite a strong offensive showing for Theriault. The first year totaled eight points in the frame, as an early-quarter score by Hudson and an Emrie Pedraza three-pointer would be the only other scores for the Gryphons. Theriault's first basket of the frame would be a triple off an SJLI turnover before Jersana Moore found her classmate for a three-point play to cut into the visitors' advantage. After Theriault assisted Peraza on the aforementioned triple, Peraza forced a turnover by the hosts, leading to a transition score, returning the favor and closing the gap to just two points. The Golden Eagles responded by ending the half with a 4-0 run to give themselves a six-point advantage at the intermission, halting SLC's momentum.

The third quarter saw Hudson step up offensively, scoring nine points as the Gryphons capitalized off eight SJLI turnovers, converting the errors into 11 points. Coughlin registered three steals in the period while Theriault and Moore each added their own to help the Gryphons erase the Golden Eagles' halftime advantage. Three straight scores off of SJLI turnovers catapulted the Gryphons into the lead, capped by a three-point play by Hudson after Coughlin's second steal of the period. Deja vu sat in as the senior from Tennessee once again forced a Long Island turnover, leading to Moore finding Hudson for another score to put SLC up by three. A pair of last-minute free throws by the hosts reduced the lead to one, but the Gryphons entered the final quarter with a one-point advantage.

In the final quarter of play, a strong showing at the free throw line allowed the Gryphons to maintain the lead and secure the victory. The team converted on ten of 13 opportunities from the free throw line in the final frame, as Hudson and Theriault went seven-for-eight in the final minute to keep the Gryphons ahead. The duo both found the bottom of the net in the early minutes of the period, but a triple by the Golden Eagles tied the game at 48 with under nine minutes to play. Hudson and Eng-Stewart combined for a 10-0 SLC run from that point on, as Eng-Stewart added a triple and a pair of made free throws to distance the Gryphons. The strong shooting from the line prevented the hosts from closing the gap, despite a last-second triple that brought the score to 69-64 and sent the visitors back to Bronxville with a win to open conference play.

Up Next

The Gryphons (2-2, Skyline 1-0) will return to action on Saturday as they head North to take on Mount Saint Mary College, the reigning Skyline Conference Champions. The game will tip off at noon from the Kaplan Center in Newburgh.