Box Score

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Senior Jen Mocanu (Belford, N.J.) lived up to her title as the 2012 Skyline Conference Player of the Year, scoring a game-high 29 points in tonight's 62-51 win over St. Joseph's College in the Skyline Conference Tournament Semifinals. The Knights improve to 23-3 and advance to the Skyline Conference Championship game. The Golden Eagles finish their season with an overall mark of 13-12.

Despite scoring the first two buckets of the game, the Knights quickly fell behind to St. Joseph's. With just over eight minutes elapsed in the half, a layup by St. Joseph's sophomore Danielle Hamlin (Centereach, N.Y.) put the Golden Eagles on top by seven, 13-6. Mount freshman Kristina Nieves (Fair Lawn, N.J.) added back to back baskets and the Knights used a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to just one, 13-12.

Around the eight minute mark a series of turnovers plagued the Knights and the Golden Eagles used this to jump ahead by seven, 19-12. Senior Chelsea Lynch (Shoreham, N.Y.) converted a layup with 2:11 left in the first, but the Knights closed out the half on a 4-0 run to pull to within one, 25-24, at the break.

In the opening minute of the second, Mocanu nailed one from downtown and ignited a 10-0 run for the Mount. Mocanu accounted for seven of the 10 points during the run. Two three pointers by Mount senior Amanda Horvers (Kingston, N.Y.) sandwiched a jumper by sophomore Rachel Perrone (Poughquag, N.Y.) and by 14:33 the Knights were up by 12, 44-32.

Trailing by eleven with just under eight minutes to play, St. Joseph's sophomore Laura Cohen (Smithtown, N.Y.) drained a shot from behind the three point arc to make the score 51-43. After being fouled, Mocanu converted two free throws to put the Knights back on top by 10, 54-44, with six minutes to go.

A seven point lead for the Knights dropped to five with 3:52 on the clock, as St. Joseph's senior Nicole Redding (Smithtown, N.Y.) collected an offensive rebound and banked in a layup. Neither team would score a field goal for the remainder of the half, but the Mount shot 6-7 from the free throw line to secure the win.

Perrone recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards. Horvers added eleven points and grabbed six rebounds, while Nieves chipped in with 8 points and 7 rebounds.

Redding was impressive for the Golden Eagles, leading the way with 14 points and 13 boards. Sophomore Christina Cohen (Smithtown, N.Y.) shot 3-5 from three point land and added 12 points. Junior Amanda Bender (East Northport, N.Y.) also reached double-digits for the Golden Eagles with 11 points.

With the Skyline Conference title on the line, the Knights will host second-seeded Farmingdale State College on Saturday, February 25. Tip off is set for 2:30 p.m.