Mount Takes Home Skyline Conference Championship

KINGS POINT – The Mount Saint Mary College women’s basketball upset Merchant Marine to secure their 15th Skyline Conference Championship in program history.

Mount Saint Mary went toe-to-toe with Skyline undefeated Merchant Marine Academy in the Skyline Conference Championship game Saturday afternoon. The Knights started off shaky, going down 12-0 in the first 5:36 of the first quarter. Ciarra Quinn would break the ice for the Mount, but it seemed like the Mariners could not miss. Merchant Marine led by as much as 15 in the opening quarter, yet the Knights would not squander this opportunity away. Mount Saint Mary has struggled in the opening halves this season when facing the Mariners. The Knights trailed by 8 at the half of their first go around, 9-1 in their second match, and 22-7 in this one. Lizzy Lofaro knocked down a three at the end of the quarter to make it 22-12 Mariners.

The Mount has always played Merchant Marine tough, and it was almost inevitable that they were going to get back in this game. Brianna Guglielmo, who had the game of her life today with a career-high 29 points, started the team with a three to open up the second quarter. Guglielmo previously had a career-high 22 points against Merchant the last time they played. The Knights would rally with a 13-0 run to steal the lead right from the Mariners and go up 28-26. Graduate forward Kate Hughes dominated the remainder of the half, helping to put the Knights up 36-33 heading into the locker room.

There was still a lot of work left to do with 20 minutes still left in regulation. Merchant would take the lead back to start the half, but Casey Love would drain a three to put the Mount back up 41-38. Lauren Petrie would knock down a shot from beyond the arc to extend their lead to 6, though this would be their last made-field goal of the quarter. Merchant Marine would cut their deficit to just 1 after a last-second layup to round out the third quarter.

Maggie Trinkaus, who was tasked with the hardest defensive matchup of the game, answered the call and started to come alive offensively in the fourth, scoring 6 of her 11 points. Both teams traded blows throughout the quarter, with Brianna Guglielmo showing up in clutch time. The Knights trailed 65-59 with two minutes to play and Guglielmo drained a three with ice in her veins. Maggie Trinkaus would force a steal and tie the game up 65-65. Lauren Petrie had 3 blocks on the afternoon and made a crucial defensive play to prevent the Mariners from scoring as we headed into overtime.

It was only fitting that these two teams would settle out the Skyline Conference Championship in overtime for a third straight time this season. Merchant Marine got the better of the Mount in the first two games, but they would not let it happen again. Down 71-67, the Knights scored 8 straight starting off with a take to the hole from Angelina Donato. In the Clutch, the Knights would knock down their free throws and beat Merchant Marine 81-76 to secure their 15th Skyline Championship in program history.