BRADENTON, Fla. - New College of Florida Women's Basketball fell 58-38 to St. Catherine University in its home opener Friday night at Bradenton Christian School.
The Mighty Banyans moved to 2-1. Aissa Diallo led NCF with nine points on three 3-pointers, while Gwen Tsoukalas added eight points and three steals.
Julia Pacheco finished with seven points and led NCF with seven rebounds and three assists. Alexa Titherington recorded four blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
St. Catherine took a 17-3 lead after the first quarter. Diallo hit two 3-pointers in the second, and Pacheco scored seven points in the period, including a 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining to cut the halftime deficit to 28-16.
Diallo opened the third quarter with her third 3-pointer, bringing NCF within nine at 28-19. St. Catherine responded with four straight baskets before Tsoukalas answered from beyond the arc. Titherington added a layup late in the quarter, but the Wildcats took a 44-24 lead into the fourth.
The teams scored 14 points apiece in the final quarter. Jadah Kingcade scored five points off the bench, and Kaitlyn Rittenhouse and Tsoukalas each knocked down a 3-pointer in the period.
Jordyn Peed led St. Catherine with 20 points.
THE TURNING POINT
After Diallo cut the deficit to nine early in the third quarter, St. Catherine went on an 8-0 run. Peed scored twice during the stretch, which pushed the Wildcats' lead to 36-19. NCF did not get back within single digits.
BY THE NUMBERS
36.4%
NCF's shooting percentage from beyond the arc on 8-of-22 shooting.
12
Points scored by the Mighty Banyans' bench.
16
St. Catherine turnovers in the game.
STAT LEADERS
Points: Aissa Diallo - 9; Gwen Tsoukalas - 8; Julia Pacheco - 7; Jadah Kingcade - 5
Rebounds: Julia Pacheco - 7; Alexa Titherington - 4; Thatiyana Holiday - 2
Assists: Julia Pacheco - 3; Alexa Titherington - 2
Steals: Gwen Tsoukalas - 3
Blocks: Alexa Titherington - 4; Julia Pacheco - 2
UP NEXT: NCF will host Florida Poly at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bradenton Christian School.
