OLD WESTBURY, NY (www.oldwestburypanthers.com) – The SUNY College at Old Westbury women's basketball team fell to former Skyline Conference opponent, Merchant Marine Academy, 62-61, Friday evening at the Clark Athletic Center. The loss moves Old Westbury to 6-2 on the season while the Mariners draw even at 4-4. Freshman Katelin Kube (West Babylon, NY) was the dominant Old Westbury force in the lanes, posting a career-best 18 points and 12 boards. 

After scoring to first basket of the game to take an early 2-0 lead, Old Westbury fell behind by as many 18 points in the first-half, down 28-10 with 5:20 left. Old Westbury responded by turning it up a notch offensively, scoring 15 of the next 21 points. Junior Rebecca Grimes (Fairfax, VA) hit 7-of-9 field goals, 5-of-6 three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes to single-handedly give the Mariners a nine point halftime lead, 34-25. 

Old Westbury outscored the Mariners 36-28 in the second half. Senior Avery Josey (Staten Island, NY) connected on a long-ball with 4:33 remaining in regulation to give Old Westbury their first lead since the 19:41 mark in the opening half. Katelin Kube sank a jumper with 2:02 left to stretch the lead to five, 61-56. The Mariners responded with a pair of made free-throws by Rebecca Grimes to cut the deficit to three. Senior Kiersten Healey (Plainville, CT) dropped in a lay-up with 40 seconds left to close within one point, 61-60. Freshman Krystina Agard (Queens, NY) got her own rebound after a missed lay-up and kicked it out to senior Carlie Moore (Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY), who hoisted up a three-pointer that rimmed out and into the hands of junior Janay Weathers (Fredericksburg, VA). Moore then fouled freshman Roshenda Josephs (Culpeper, VA) with nine second remaining. Josephs, who scored eight points, nailed both free-throws, giving the Mariners a 62-61 advantage. Moore had a chance to redeem herself with one second left, attempting a three-pointer which was blocked by Rebecca Grimes to escape Old Westbury with the road win. 

Kube spearheaded the Old Westbury effort with a career-high 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 12 rebounds (six offensive) in 25 minutes of action off the bench. Kube added one swat and one steal while classmate Krystina Agard finished with eight points, six rebounds and six assists. Agard's eight points were a career-low, connecting on 1-of-11 from the floor with 10 turnovers. Junior Brittany Jones (Elmont, NY) had 12 points and seven rebounds while Avery Josey added eight points. Freshman Abigail Williams (Brooklyn, NY) came off the bench and chipped in with five points, four rebounds, two blocked shots and one steal in 17 minutes of court time. 

Grimes led the Mariners with 27 points. She shot 9-of-14 from the field, 7-of-9 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the stripe to go along with three steals and one blocked shot in 34 minutes of action. Senior Brooke Picillo (Fort Wayne, IN) also finished in double figures, scoring 14 points in addition to three assists, three rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal. 

The Panthers were 19-of-54 from the field (35.2%), 3-of-15 from three-point range (20%) and 20-of-33 from the line (60.6%). Merchant Marine was 22-of-54 (40.7%) from the field, 7-of-13 from beyond the arc (53.8%) and 11-of-12 from the charity stripe (91.7%). Old Westbury won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Mariners 39-29, including 15-6 off the offensive glass. Old Westbury finished the game with 25 turnovers, resulting in 24 Merchant Marine Academy points. The Mariners tallied nine steals and Old Westbury had six. 

ST. JOSEPH'S-BROOKLYN NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury hits the road to take on the Staten Island Dolphins on Wednesday, December 23rd. Panthers and Dolphins tangle at 7 p.m. in Staten Island. Please visit www.oldwestburypanthers.com for more information on women's basketball or any of the other Panther athletic teams.