Mount Pushes Past Merchant Marine in Overtime

By Kyle Teixeira

NEWBURGH – The Mount Saint Mary College women’s basketball team came away with an overtime win over Merchant Marine behind a career-high 34 points from Brianna Guglielmo.

Mount Saint Mary hosted a rematch of the 2025 Skyline Conference Championship game against Merchant Marine. All three matches against the Mariners went into overtime last season, with the Knights claiming the Skyline trophy in their last match-up. Sara Cashin would get the scoring going for the Mount with a jump shot assisted by Brianna Guglielmo. Guglielmo got her night started with a three-pointer, as part of her career-best 34-point performance. Her previous career-high came against Merchant Marine in the 2025 Championship game, where she scored 29 and earned herself Tournament MVP. The three-ball was falling for the Knights in the first quarter, with Reese Mayer hitting the third shot from beyond the arc as they trailed 19-17 after the first.

Angelina Donato had her best game of the year so far, finishing the game with a season-best 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists as she was getting it done across the board.

Mount Saint Mary trailed 29-23 midway through the quarter, but they would hold the Mariners to just 30.0% shooting in the second, allowing a 12-2 run that included a Donato three to take the lead back 32-31. The Knights would head into the half up 35-33 as they outscored Merchant Marine 18-14 in the quarter.

The Mariners got off to a quick start to begin the third quarter, scoring 5 points in the opening minute; however, they would be held scoreless until 3:30 left in the quarter.

Brianna Guglielmo would spark an 8-0 Knights run with 6-straight points to put the Mount back on top 43-38. USMMA was able to stay in the game with its 25 offensive boards, which nearly matched the Knights’ game total of 27. The Mariners doubled Mount Saint Mary in second-chance points, 24-12, though the Mount still held a 46-45 lead heading into the fourth.

Brianna Guglielmo would hit on back-to-back three-point attempts to start the quarter, as she was on an absolute heater this game. A 9-2 run from Merchant Marine put them back on top 56-54, but Guglielmo scored the first 10 points of the quarter for the Knights to help them stay afloat. Trailing 60-56 with just over two minutes to go, Reese Mayer would draw a foul and hit both free throws to make it a one-possession game. The Mariners seemed to be able to answer the Knights no matter what until a missed free throw gave the Mount some hope. With 20 seconds remaining, Mount Saint Mary needed a three to tie it and send the game into overtime. Brianna Guglielmo would grab her own miss and find Gabby Ziegenbalg open as she nailed a three to tie the game 67-67 and send it to overtime.

From nearly being down for the count, the Knights rose back up and took their energy into OT. Merchant Marine would score first, but Guglielmo answered right back with a bucket of her own. Angelina Donato drew a crucial charge, then followed it up with a put-back layup to take the lead 71-69. Sara Cashin would get a big-time block on the other end, which led to a Reese Mayer layup and put the Knights up two possessions. Donato had a stellar overtime recording 6 points, a game-changing charge, and a blocked shot to put the cherry on top. Up multiple possessions, the Knights forced the Mariners to foul, as Mount Saint Mary came out on top 80-73 to defeat Merchant Marine in the team’s fourth straight overtime game.