While women’s basketball looked to advance against Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) Warriors, a late-breaking offensive slip proved fatal.
The Little East Conference (LEC) quarterfinal game was held at ECSU on Feb. 20 with the Owls entering as the No. 5 seed in the conference and the Warriors a No. 4.
In two previous matches, the Owls narrowly fell to the Warriors 59-62 on Jan. 9 and routed them in a Feb. 7 matchup 68-37.
Going into the game the Owls and the Warriors both traded shots but saw little success until sophomore Lilly Krysinski netted a jumper to open up scoring three minutes into the first quarter. It did not take long until the Warriors answered the shot with a jumper of their own just a minute later.
Sophomore Val Luizzi netted the next shot, scoring a three-pointer. Shortly after, the Owls gained four from the free-throw line, widening the lead to 6-2.
The Warriors swung back after making two free throws followed by a three-pointer and a jumper.
Luizzi answered with two jumpers which caused the Owls to escape the quarter with their lead.
The second quarter started off strong for the Owls with first-year Brynn Rautiola scoring a three-pointer, but a foul committed by the Owls saw them give up their lead for the first time in the match.
The Owls fouls saw them concede seven points in the second quarter alone, but four three-pointers saved them from leaving the quarter behind.
The third quarter proved uneventful offensively for both sides, with the Owls leaving the quarter 33-29.
The fourth quarter was the Owls’ undoing, with the offensive woes and second-lowest field goal percentage of the season showing through.
The Owls only scored a trio of free throws and a jumper shot in the fourth quarter while the Warriors broke out with a 14-point performance, matching their second-quarter performance.
Ultimately, the Warriors seeked out the win 43-38 while the Owls’ season was stopped dead in its tracks.
Rautiola was just two points shy of breaking women’s basketball’s single-season scoring record, ending the season with 491 points scored compared to record-holder Patty Rauch who scored 492 in the 1986-1987 season.
On Feb. 27 Rautiola was named LEC Rookie of the Year.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
