Early Saturday women’s basketball recap

Lindsey Abertelli celebrated Senior Day with 21 points in Ithaca’s 52-49 win over Skidmore on Saturday afternoon. Ithaca College athletics file photo

No. 15 Ithaca held off Skidmore to stay in first place in the Liberty League while Rowan edged Kean to grab a share of first in the NJAC in early results from Saturday’s Division III women’s basketball action. Meanwhile, No. 4 Scranton survived a test at home against Catholic, but No. 24 Elizabethtown fell at Moravian.

No. 15 Ithaca defeated Skidmore, 52-49, in a back-and-forth battle between the top two teams in the Liberty League. In a fourth quarter that had four ties and six lead changes, the Bombers pulled ahead for good with a 7-0 run keyed by Emily Dorn’s go-ahead layup with four minutes remaining. Annabella Yorio followed Dorn’s bucket with a layup, and then Lindsey Abertelli’s three-point play took Ithaca’s lead to 49-42.

After shooting 30 percent through the first three quarters (12 for 40), Ithaca went 8 for 16 from the field in the final quarter. Abertelli posted 21 points, three blocks and two rebounds for Ithaca (18-2, 13-0 LL), which has a two-game lead and the season sweep over Skidmore.

No. 5 Scranton scored the final eight points of third quarter to take the lead on Catholic, and then the Lady Royals held off the Cardinals at home, 55-47. After Erin Doherty put Catholic in front 31-30, Scranton scored on four of its next five possessions. Sam Rajza, who had four points during that game-deciding run, finished with 19 points for Scranton (21-0, 10-0 Landmark). 

Scranton’s lead in the Landmark is now two games after Moravian upset No. 24 Elizabethtown, 75-70. Tessa Zamolyi had a double-double (27 points, 11 rebounds) for the Greyounds, who shot 46 percent from the field (26 for 56) and 82 percent from the foul line (18 for 22).

The story was similar in the OAC where one ranked team rallied to victory and the other didn’t.

No. 13 Ohio Northern outscored Capital 28-11 in the fourth quarter and surged past the Comets, 69-65. Abby Dickson scored 10 points off the bench for the Polar Bears, as part of their 21-6 advantage in reserve scoring. Brynn Serbin led Ohio Northern (19-2, 13-1 OAC) with 21 points. Just outside of Columbus, Otterbein knocked off No. 14 Baldwin, 58-55. Katie McCracy scored Otterbein’s last seven points and finished with 15. Otterbein’s win drops Baldwin Wallace two games behind Ohio Northern in the OAC with four to play.

Kate Herlihy’s jumper gave Rowan a two-point lead late at Kean, and the Profs made enough free throws to seal a 78-76 win that pushes them into a tie for first in the NJAC. After Herlihy gave Rowan a 75-73 lead with a minute to play, Kean got two looks at a game-tying or go-ahead basket and missed both. Off the second miss, the Cougars fouled Dakota Adams and she made both free throws for Rowan. Kean pulled within one with 23 seconds to play on Brittany Graff’s three, but Herlihy added another free throw and Kean came up empty on its last possession.

Ny’emah Middleton paced Rowan (15-7, 11-4 NJAC) with 19 points. Shannon McCoy scored 28 points in 40 minutes for Kean (13-9, 11-4 NJAC).

New Jersey City made it a three-way tie for first in that conference by beating Rutgers-Newark, 83-65. The Gothic Knights host Rowan on Wednesday night.

No. 8 Hardin-Simmons all-but-clinched the top spot and hosting rights for the ASC playoffs with a 67-48 win at Texas-Dallas. The Cowgirls (19-2, 14-0 ASC) led for almost the entire game, as Parris Parmer filled the stat sheet with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Hardin-Simmons has a 3.5-game lead on Texas-Dallas, East Texas Baptist and Mary Hardin-Baylor with four games to play, and the Cowgirls have already swept Texas-Dallas and ETBU.

This recap will be updated later this evening.