Box Score

The New York University women's basketball team suffered its first defeat of the 2011-12 season on Tuesday, November 29, falling 49-37 at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY.
 
Facing a Mount Saint Mary (4-1) defense that allowed the fewest points per game in all of Division III last season (42.6 ppg) and boasted the best field-goal percentage defense in the nation (30.3%), the Violets (4-1) were held to just 21.3% shooting (10-47) while turning the ball over 26 times.
 
The Knights, who have made 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, struggled offensively, as well, but converted enough (31.4% on 16-51 shooting) to pull out the win in a budding rivalry.
 
“We prepared for a defensive battle, and we knew that whoever could come up with more defensive stops was going to win this game,” said Violet head coach Stefano Trompeo.
 
“What stuck out, though, was the 26 turnovers,” he added. “In a game like this, every possession counts, and we didn't have the fight to want to protect the ball. That's the most disappointing part.”
 
Turnovers plagued both sides in the game's first 10 minutes, during which the teams combined for just 10 points. Mount Saint Mary eventually jumped ahead by eight, but a Tana Bertino jumper 30 seconds before the half made it a 20-14 game entering the break.
 
The Knights used a 9-3 run to open the second period to go up 12, 29-17, and eventually led by 10, 33-23, with 12:19 to play. NYU, however, responded with five straight points, pulling to within five on a pair of Bertino free throws.
 
But that was as close as the Violets would get, as Mount Saint Mary scored five straight points of its own and kept NYU at bay from there.
 
“We were never able to put together consecutive possessions,” commented Trompeo. “Every time we got a stop we didn't executive offensively, whether it was a forced shot or a turnover.”
 
Bertino led the Violets with 11 points and added six rebounds. Shelby Coon netted seven points and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, while Melissa Peng had a game-high four assists.
 
The Knights' 1,000-point scorer, Jen Mocanu, led all players with 12 points. Kristina Nieves netted 10 poiunts, while Kate Hartnett corralled a team-best nine boards.
 
NYU returns to the court on Saturday, December 3, for its second straight road game against a team that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. The Violets will make the short trip to Baruch College for a 2:00 pm start.