BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - Junior
Tianna Smith (Spring Valley, N.Y.) poured in a game-high 28 points however it was not enough as the visiting Tigers from Holy Family University defeated the Bears 82-75 in double-overtime Saturday afternoon. The loss dropped Bloomfield College to 20-6 on the season and snapped their undefeated streak in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) play. The Tigers improved to 19-6 for the year and 14-2 in league play with the victory.
Smith knocked down a season-high, eleven field goals on sixteen attempts including a career-best, six from beyond the arc. The CACC Player of the Week also recorded three rebounds and three steals during the setback. Senior
Ariel Wilson chipped in 17 points (7-20 FG, 2-6 3-FG, 1-2 FT), grabbed six boards and dished out a career-high seven assists while snagging five steals.
On the Tigers side of the ball, Jill Conroy poured in 20 points while Abigail Iannotti grabbed 11 rebounds.
Bloomfield seized control of the first quarter with an 18-14 advantage as Wilson and Smith combined for ten points in the frame. Holy Family came back in the second quarter to trim their deficit to three (35-32) heading into halftime. Both teams shot over 50.0 percent from the field at the break with Smith lighting up the net with 17 first half points on 7-for-8 buckets including a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range.
The third quarter opened up with a Bears 11-4 run over the first six minutes. The Tigers responded with their own 12-4 spurt and ended the period a little closer (50-48) as the teams headed into the final frame. The fourth quarter saw both teams battle for each bucket with Bloomfield staking a four-point lead (67-63) as 1:57 showed on the clock. Holy Family decided to foul junior
Morgan Taylor (Paterson, N.J.) and the gamble paid off as the guard miss both shots from the line. The Tigers took advantage and buried a three-pointer to pull within one with fifty-five seconds remaining in regulation. The visitors sent the Bears to the line again and after
Alexia' Tucker (Halifax, Va.) made 1-of-2, Conroy forced overtime with a bucket in the paint that tied the game at 60-60.
Missed free throws in the first overtime cost Bloomfield a chance to clinch the game. The Tigers and Bears played to a 72-72 stalemate after five minutes and lined up for a second overtime period. The home team managed just one bucket as they watched Holy Family rip off the first eight points of the frame and sealed the first CACC loss for Bloomfield. It was also the first defeat witnessed by the Bears crowd at home this season.
Bloomfield entered the game already having clinched a postseason berth into the CACC Tournament and the #1 seed out of the North Division. Next up the Bears will travel down the road to face the Cougars in another CACC showdown on Saturday, February 20. The 1:00 pm battle will feature the hottest team in the league as Caldwell rides a 9-game win streak entering the contest at the George R. Newman Center.
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