Three Mount Players Net Double-Figures at USMMA

KINGS POINT – Senior Jessica Rini led three players in double-figures with 18 points and junior Elizabeth Limonta posted a double-double, including a career-high 15 rebounds, in a 69-47 road Skyline Conference win at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

The Knights broke open a tight game with a 7-1 run late in the first period to gain a 21-12 advantage. Jordyn Hellpap capped the run for the Knights with a three-pointer as the Mount took a 21-15 lead into the second stanza.

The Mount scored the first four points of the second period to take its first double digit lead of the game on a Rini conversion and used an 8-0 run over the final 4:11 of the second quarter to take a 42-24 lead into the intermission. Freshman Katie Smith keyed the run with four points for the Knights.

The Knights shot an even 50-percent from the floor on 36 attempts in the first half, getting 10 points from Rini on 5-for-6 shooting. Kiana Vega led all players with 13 halftime points for the Mariners, but the Mount held USMMA to just 30-percent shooting over the opening 20 minutes.

Mount Saint Mary maintained a double-figure lead throughout the second half, not allowing the Mariners closer than 10 points the rest of the game. The Mount allowed only four points to the Mariners in the fourth period, building the advantage to a game-high and final 22 points on a Kassidy Hallum three-pointer with 96 seconds left in the contest.

Although the Knights cooled to 31-percent shooting after halftime, it made five more field goals than USMMA in the second half and held the Mariners to a 26.7-percent conversion rate.

Rini closed the game 9-for-14 from the floor on her way to a team-high 18 points, adding eight rebounds, two blocked shots and a pair of steals. Smith scored in double-figures for the third straight game with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting to go along with five assists.

Limonta came off the bench to pour in 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting and bested her previous career-high in rebounding by two with the game-high total. Sophomore Lyndsay Pace handed out four assists for the Knights, with Maite Gritsko adding two steals.

USMMA was led by 18 points and 10 rebounds from Kaleigh D’Arcy, while Vega was held off the board in the second half, finishing with 13 points and four helpers.

Mount Saint Mary converted at 39.7-percent for the game and went 3-for-22 from three-point range. The Knights held USMMA to 28.3-percent shooting and outscored the Mariners 40-16 in the paint and 16-5 in second chance points.