Women’s Basketball Battles Keystone To 77-75 Non-Conference Loss

LA PLUME, Pa. – Senior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) and junior Kaitlynne Knapp (Port Byron, N.Y.) scored 25 and 21 points respectively for the Wells College women's basketball team, but it was not enough en route to a 77-75 loss at the hands of Keystone College Tuesday evening at the Ace Spalding Arena. With the loss, the Express even their overall record at 5-5 while Keystone improves to 9-2 on the season following the non-conference tilt.

Roser scored a team-leading 25 points and she added seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Her double-double streak dating back to last season was snapped at 23 games. Knapp picked up her first double-double in a Wells uniform, racking up a season-best 21 points alongside 13 rebounds for the Express. Senior Theresa Hernandez (Dewitt, N.Y.) posted seven assists and 11 rebounds for the Express after a 6-for-8 shooting performance from the floor. 

Keystone, who entered the contest shooting at a .363 three-point percentage on the season, was limited to only 17.4% shooting on the evening (4-for-23). Nationally, the Giants entered the game ranked 23rd in three-point percentage across all qualifying NCAA Division III programs. The Giants, ranked 13th nationally in scoring offense (83.4) entering the game, were held to only 77 points on the year.

In the first half, Wells shot a combined 44.1% after burying 15-of-34 field goals but ultimately trailed by a 35-33 margin. Keystone built up a seven point lead with 7:55 remaining in the stanza, leading 27-21 after a Jerica Rode layup in the paint. After trading baskets as time ticked away in the first, a layup by Roser tied the game at 31 aside with only 1:38 remaining. 

Jazmyn Robinson, however, scored the game's next four points for the Giants as they captured a 35-31 lead within the half's final minute. A Hernandez layup with six seconds left in the first cut into the deficit, sending the hosts to the locker room with a 35-33 lead. Keystone scored 12 points off of turnovers in the half while Wells put back 10 points off of second chance opportunities. 

Junior Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) opened the second half with a bang, bombing a three-point basket only 59 seconds into the second stanza to capture a 36-35 lead. A Chantel Blake layup followed Smythe's basket and the Giants did not relinquish the lead until a Roser layup with 5:46 remaining in the half. Her layup granted the Express a 63-62 lead for the time being. 

Wells and Keystone battled to their eighth tie with 3:37 remaining as Ashley Evans knotted the score at 67 aside with a layup. From that point, a Robinson layup granted the hosts the permanent lead in the game. A Roser layup with 1:25 left in regulation time cut the deficit to 72-71, but the Giants held on for a two point victory. 

Keystone was led by Evans' 20 total points and Blake's 15 total rebounds. Cuomo was 4-for-12 from the floor while Robinson picked up a team-leading seven assists and six steals.

Wells returns to action this Saturday, Jan. 11 as they face-off against NEAC-rival Penn St.-Abington on the road at 4:00 p.m.