Owls Win NE-10 Tournament; Lynch Named MVP

Southern Connecticut Sports Information 

New Haven, Conn. – Kate Lynch (Rumford, RI) scored a career high 34 points and was named the tournament MVP to lead the Southern Connecticut State University women’s basketball team over Pace University, 73-57, to claim the Northeast-10 Tournament Championship.

Lynch had just 11 points in the first half, and led the Owls into the locker room with a 32-23 advantage over Pace, who were winners in Friday night’s first semi-final over St. Rose, 78-72 in over-time.

Pace would not let Southern Connecticut pull away until late in the first half. The Setters matched the Owls, holding to within one point as late as the 8:07 mark when Ashley Wallace hit a lay up following a Southern foul.

Lynch hit a three on the ensuing possession for the Owls and Southern Connecticut went on an eight-to-two run to take a nine point lead with 6:20 to play. A three pointer by Heather Coombs (Trumbull, Conn.) off an assist from Michelle Martinik (Monroe, Conn.) capped the run for the Owls.

Southern earned their largest lead of the half when Lynch converted a lay up after a missed jumper by Pace’s Liran Buchris was rebounded by Rochelle Johnson (Norwalk, Conn.).

The Setters climbed to within six at the 18:14 mark on a Buchris lay-up, but a foul by Stephanie Rossmy and two free throws by Shamika Jackson (Manchester, Conn.) helped the Owls open up another 11 point lead with 16:30 remaining.

Southern Connecticut took advantage of several turnovers and change of possessions by Pace, going on a 26-10 run to open up a 24 point lead with 4:04 to play, capped by a lay up by Kate Lynch off an assist from Jackson.

Jackson finished the evening with 22 points, off eight-for-14 shooting from the floor, eight rebounds and five assists to help lead the Owls to their second straight NE-10 Tournament Championship. Martinik finished the night with eight points, including two three pointers. Southern’s lone senior Babette Noah (Yaounde, Cameroon) finished the night with six points and eight rebounds.

Southern Connecticut shot 48.3-percent from the floor on the night, including 59.3-percent in the second half.

Pace, who was led by Buchris with 14 points and Wallace with 12 points, shot 42.1-percent from the floor on the night.

The Owls improve to 28-2 on the year as Pace falls to 23-8 overall.