Pleasantville, N.Y.- Margo Hackett (Pawling, NY/Pawling) (Pawling, NY / Pawling) led the Setters with 22 points to beat the Dolphins of Le Moyne College 71-54. The Setters clinched the #7 spot and will host the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Tournament Friday, March 1 against the Warriors of Merrimack College. The Setters capped the regular season off at 14-12 overall and 12-10 in the NE-10, while the Dolphins finished at 6-20 overall and 4-18 in the conference.
Along with Hacketts' impressive double-digit scoring performance, Brittany Shields (Cold Spring, NY / Haldane) recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jessica Scannell (Cork, Ireland/St. Vincents) (Cork, Ireland / St. Vincents) finished with 11 points, six steals and three assists while Allison Cleary (New Windsor, NY/Cornwall Central) (New Windsor, NY / Cornwall Central) contributed seven points, five rebounds and four assists. Yuni Sher (Poughkeepsie, NY / Long Island Lutheran) finished with a solid eight points and eight rebounds.
Lauren Price led the Dolphins with 17 points and four rebounds while Emily Greer wasn't far behind with 13 points and four rebounds. Tori Lee added 12 points, three rebounds and four assists.
The Setters were able to capitalize and score 26 points off of the Dolphins 16 turnovers, while also out-scoring the Dolphins 26-16 in the paint and 11-4 on second-chance attempts.
The game started with a quick switch of leads in the first four minutes but the Setters managed to go on a 16-0 run over the next five minutes to go up 21-9 with 10:36 to go in the first half. The Dolphins tried to minimize the point deficit but the Setters were on fire as they hit consecutive shots to maintain a healthy lead with 5:21 to the half. The Dolphins came within 11 points but Pace carried the lead back out to go into halftime, 38-24.
The Dolphins came within ten points and flirted with a six point differential in the first five minutes of the second half. They came within four points on two free throws with 10:45 to go in regulation, the closest they had been since the first few minutes of the game. The Setters went 3-4 from the field, 2-2 from the line and 1-2 from the outside over the next couple minutes to take a double-digit lead back. The Setters went 8-8 from the free-throw line in the final 2:36 and Cleary drained a jump-shot with 13 seconds left on the clock to give the Setters their largest lead, by 17, and solidify the win, 71-54.
The Setters will take on the Warriors of Merrimack College at Goldstein Fitness Center on Friday, March 1 with the time TBD. The Setters beat the Warriors on the road this season 71-61 on January 26. The Warriors finished the regular season at 14-11 overall and 10-11 in the conference.
