ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University women's basketball team cut a 14-point third-quarter deficit to one twice in the fourth quarter before falling just short and dropping a 59-56 decision to the College of Staten Island in an East Coast Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Voller Athletic Center.
Freshman Paris Anthony made 8 of 10 field goals and finished with a career-high 18 points and junior Georgia Haverlock added 15 points and 12 rebounds for Roberts (3-13, 2-7 ECC). Junior Emily Palmer contributed eight points and freshman Grace Galgano chipped in with eight rebounds and four blocked shots.
"There's a lot of fight in this team, a lot of togetherness," Roberts coach Kevin Clifford said. "Their word for the season is LIT, it stands for loyalty, intensity and togetherness, and they showed a lot of grit today."
Roberts trailed 38-24 with 7:08 remaining in the third quarter before going on a 14-4 run to pull within four points at the start of the fourth quarter. Haverlock scored seven points in the spurt.
CSI made just two of 16 shots (12.5 percent) from the floor in the third as Roberts outscored the Dolphins 14-6. After making 14 of 30 shots (46.6 percent) in the first half, CSI went just 7 of 31 (23.5 percent) in the second half.
A corner three by junior guard Danielle DiCintio pulled Roberts within 42-41 seven seconds into the fourth and the game remained close throughout.
A layup Anthony brought the Redhawks within a point, 57-56, with 9.1 seconds remaining. Roberts forced a turnover and had a go-ahead basket nullified by an offensive foul with 3.1 seconds to play.
CSI (7-11, 3-5) made two free throws with two seconds to play and a desperation shot by the Redhawks was off target at the buzzer.
Anthony scored seven points in the first quarter and eight in the fourth, including six in the frantic final 1:22.  She has scored in double figures in four straight games, including her previous career-best of 15 against D'Youville on Jan. 14.
"She's really tough around the basket and she is always in the gym," Clifford said. "She's a gym rat and she's playing with a lot of confidence right now."
The Redhawks resume their six-game homestand at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 for an ECC contest against Saint Thomas Aquinas College.