Roser’s Free Throws Power Women’s Basketball To First Postseason Victory

MARCY, N.Y. – With less than a second remaining in the contest, junior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) was fouled and buried both free throws as the Wells College women's basketball team posted an 82-80 victory over the Wildcats of SUNY Institute of Technology Tuesday evening at the Campus Center Gym. The Express, winning their very first playoff game in their team's history, improve to 13-13 overall on the year while the Wildcats fall to 15-9 overall on the season.

Trailing by four points, 80-76, with 53 seconds remaining, the Express pulled off a comeback for the ages. Following an Emily Alicea foul, freshman Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) went to the line and buried both foul shots to cut the deficit to two. Sophomore Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Kapaa, Hawaii) struck next for the Express, burying a jumper to knot the score at 80. Following a Lyndsay Brognano turnover, junior Kristen Ryan (Syracuse, N.Y.) laid the ball up but it kicked off the rim and fell onto the hands of Roser.

With only .1 seconds left on the clock, Ashley Schmidt fouled out of the game with her fifth foul that sent Roser to the line with minimal time remaining. Roser was able to bury both free throws while securing the program's first ever postseason victory.

Cumulatively, Roser led the way with 36 total points and 14 rebounds. Named Conference Player of the Year earlier in the afternoon, Roser was 13-for-21 from the field and poured in 10 free throws to lift the Express to victory. Erkson ranked second with 16 total points to her credit while Ryan chipped in 13 total points in the winning effort.

Wells jumped out to the early 2-0 lead as Erkson scored only 58 seconds in to grant the Express an early lead. With the score deadlocked at 12 aside with 14:13 remaining in the first half, the Express went on a six point run. Erkson joined Ryan and Artaho-Aki with two point baskets to extend their lead to six.

The Express possessed a 12 point lead with 1:37 remaining in the first half following a six point run. Roser used a jumper and a layup before Erkson used her 11th and 12th points of the half to extend their lead. In the final minute, however, Brognano forced home a three-pointer and a jumper at the buzzer to sway the momentum in the waning seconds. In total, Brognano scored all eight of her team's points in the final 1:13 of action.

Through the first half, Wells dominated the Wildcats in the paint, outscoring the hosts 24-8. The Express also utilized second chance opportunities to the tune of 12 first half points. Brognano led her team in the first half, scoring 17 of her team's 34 first half points.

The Wildcats led by as much as seven points with 2:42 remaining in the second half following two successful free throws by Schmidt. The Express, however, scored 10 of the game's next 14 points to not only cut the deficit, but eventually take the lead for good. In total, the score was tied at seven different occasions and the lead changed six times cumulatively.

For SUNYIT, Brognano led the way with 22 points and chipped in four assists. Hanahan was second on the squad, collecting a double-double with 21 total points and 12 rebounds. Kayla McNeil rounded out the double-digit point scorers for the Wildcats, pouring home 18 of her own.

The Express return to action this weekend as they travel to Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pa. to face-off against top seeded Lancaster Bible at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).