FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Daemen University women's basketball snapped their three-game win streak with a 63-52 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic University on Friday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Wildcats drop to 3-2 on the year while PBA improves to 3-1 this season with today's win.
A big Sailfish second quarter was the difference in this one, with Palm Beach Atlantic outscoring the Wildcats 20 to 8 in the second to take a 13-point lead into the half. PBA never relinquished a lead from there, and even with a nice fourth quarter from the Cats, Daemen never brought the game closer than within 10 points in the final two quarters. The Sailfish were dominant on the boards, out-rebounding Daemen 47 to 27 on the day.
Daemen shot 34-percent from the field (18-of-53) and made just three shots from beyond the arc (3-of-12 from three), while the Sailfish banked 23-of-58 from the field (39.7-percent) and 4-of-13 from three. PBA senior Kash Ayuso led all players on the day with 18 points after going 6-of-12 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw stripe.
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday to take on Nova Southeastern in a noon match up.
IMPACT PLAYERS
- Daemen senior guard Alahna Paige (Rochester, N.Y.) posted double-digit points for the fifth straight game, leading the Wildcats with 17 points after shooting 5-of-11 from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc and 6-of-7 from the line, while adding three rebounds and a steal to her stat line on the day.
- Sophomore forward Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) finished with a season-high 11 points, shooting 40-percent (4-of-10) from the field, banking the only three-ball she shot, and knocking down 2-of-4 free throws. Pikett pulled down four rebounds and added five steals, four blocks and an assist.
- Senior guard Gabby McDuffie (Buffalo, N.Y.) totaled nine points after going 4-of-11 from the field and snagged four rebounds with two assists.
- Senior forward Natalie Angeletti (Panama, N.Y.) finished with eight points after going 2-of-3 from the field and 4-of-4 from the stripe while adding a team-high six rebounds.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Sailfish shut Paige down early, and McDuffie the first four points for the Wildcats. PBA led 11-10 at the end of the first. Daemen shot 33-percent (4-of-12) from the field in the first 10 minutes of play. The Sailfish out-rebounded Daemen 10-7 in the first quarter.
- Palm Beach Atlantic opened the second on a 9-0 run after the Wildcats missed six straight shots in the first half of the quarter. The Sailfish outscored Daemen 20-8 in the second after shooting 47-percent from the field to lead the Wildcats 31-18 at the half.
- PBA's Kash Ayuso led all players with 12 first-half points. McDuffie and Paige each tallied six points to lead the Wildcats at the half.
- Daemen went on a 6-2 run to start the third quarter, and traded baskets with the Sailfish throughout the rest of the third. PBA narrowly outscored the Wildcats 18-17 and led 49-35 after three quarters.
- Down 14 going into the final quarter of play, the Wildcats put together a solid fourth quarter game plan and finished with 17 points but late Wildcat fouls down the stretch sent the Sailfish to the line for eight free throws. PBA finished with 14 points along with 14 boards in the quarter.
Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
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