Pace Paw Print

Media Credit: Alex Pandolfi Laura Mooney is watching two of her five point sinking before she left with an injury

Dec. 1, Pleasantville- Despite the Setters remaining strong throughout the game, Pace's women's basketball team just couldn't hold on as they suffered a heartbreaking 54-52 loss to the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

The schools weren't close for too long, as a three pointer by freshman guard Lisa Welsome would give the Setters an early 6-4 lead. This lead would only get bigger as the Setters would bring the score to 14-4 in the game's first five minutes. The 10-0 point run ended with a lay up by Pace's senior guard Stephanie Klingele.

Approaching the middle of the first half, the Penmen were starting to scare the Setters, getting closer to the lead, the closest score being 18-14 at the ten minute mark.

With the help of free throw shooting, Pace would maintain a somewhat safe distance from SNHU. The Setters hit 80 percent of their free throws in the first half.

In fact, two foul shots sunk by sophomore forward Taylor Losey made the score 32-19 late in the opening half.

SNHU would not leave for halftime with a 13 deficit hanging over them, so the Penmen had to tighten this lead. With 19 seconds left in the first half, Penmen freshman guard Libby Cullerot drained a jumper that brought the Setters' lead to nine.

The score at the end of the first half was 34-25. Klingele put up nine first half points, helping out the Setters' offense, while sophomore Penmen forward Ashara Carrington led her team in scoring with seven first half points.

Both teams would be scoreless in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Penmen picked up where they left off, which was eating away at the Setters' lead when senior forward Heather Marino made a shot from three point land, making the score 34-28.

The Setters would continue to hold off the Penmen until there was about ten minutes remaining in the game. At this point, senior Penmen guard Kristen Anderson fired a three pointer, tying up the game at 41.

Klingele, completing two foul shots one minute later, would once again give the Setters a small 43-41 lead. With a small lead in tact, the Setters were looking to extend it. Instead, Pace found them selves in a hole as SNHU closed the gap. A lay up being made by senior forward Sara Tucker gave the Penmen a late 49-48.

The game was starting to look grim for the Setters, and it only became worse.

With 2:57 left on the game clock, sophomore Setters guard Laura Mooney was knocked down and it appeared as if she rolled back onto her neck. The gym was silent as Mooney was on the floor.

The game was stopped until an ambulance could come to take Mooney out on a stretcher. As Mooney was being carted out, everyone in attendance showed respect (including the opposing team) by standing up and clapping.

Mooney led the team with five assists and also totaled with five points and four boards prior to the injury.

Pace still had a game to finish even with Mooney's unfortunate injury. Being down by one, the Setters were looking for something positive to come from this game.

Time was starting to run out and the Setters were losing 52-50 with 1:34 remaining in the game. A jumper drained by senior forward Stephanie Rossmy electrified the crowd and tied the game up at 52.

Rossmy would get a chance to break that tie with 38 seconds left, but failed to do so when she missed two free throws.

A shot launched by senior forward Brooke Lefort ultimately gave the win to the Penmen.

Leading the Setters in points on the afternoon was Klingele with eleven. Welsome and freshman forward Brittany Huggins tied for the lead in rebounds with six apiece.

With the loss, the Setters will fall to 1-4 overall with a 1-3 record in the Northeast-10 conference (NE-10). The win for SNHU brings their overall record to 2-3 and their NE-10 conference record to 2-2.

Thoughts and get well wishes go out to Laura Mooney!

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