MUSTANGS LOSE TO BECKER COLLEGE IN OVERTIME, Cherie Parisi Nets 34

Becker College hit a lay-up in the paint with 17 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Hawks to an 87-83 win over Mount Ida College. The Mustangs drop their record to 2-5 while the Hawks improve to 3-3 on the season.  Cherie Parisi (South Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) led the Mustangs with 16 points and 8 rebounds andElise McLear (Swansea, MA/Case) added 6 points in the first half as Mount Ida took a 39-29 lead at the break.

Mount Ida had built a 14 point lead at 44-30 at the 18:33 mark of the second set. Becker then went on a 28-14 run and took their first lead of the second half 60-58. The teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes with neither team building more than a three point edge. The teams were tied 74-74 with 26 ticks on the clock. Rachel Pinak (Cheektowaga, NY) hit a jumper with eight seconds remaining to give the Hawks the lead but they couldn’t hold on while Brieanna Holiday (Dummerston, VT/Brattleboro Union) hit two crucial free throws with three seconds remaining to force the overtime.

The Hawks took a quick lead in the OT on a three point shot just 3 seconds in. McLear countered with a good jumper to make it a 79-78 game. With four minutes remaining Parisi struck for two giving the Mustangs an 80-79 lead. Neither team scored over the next two and a half minutes until Beth Pion (Enfield, CT) hit a jumper at 1:44 to give Becker back the lead at 81-80. Parisi quickly countered with a three giving the Mustangs a two point advantage at 83-81. After a Becker timeout the Hawks hit a jumper to tie the game at 83-83. After a Parisi miss, Becker came down the floor and dropped in the winning basket.

Mount Ida was led by Parisi who finished with game highs in points 34 and rebounds 13. Holiday added 15 points and 5 assists.

The Mustangs will travel to Wentworth Institute of Technology this Saturday, December 8th, for their second to last game of 2007. Tip-off will be at 1:00 p.m.