PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – On Wednesday night,
Morgan Ryan turned in a milestone performance, posting a career-high 20 points and knocking down the 100th three-pointer of her collegiate career, but Pace University Women's Basketball came up just short in a 56–49 loss to Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). The Setters slipped to 5–8 overall and 1–3 in Northeast 10 Conference play following a game that remained within one possession deep into the fourth quarter.
Pace set the tone early with confident perimeter shooting, as Ryan connected from beyond the arc to spark a strong opening stretch. The Setters edged ahead 13–12 after the first quarter, behind balanced scoring and active defense. Ryan continued to find space in the second quarter, drilling multiple three-pointers as Pace briefly pushed the lead to 16–12. Southern Connecticut responded late in the half, but Pace stayed composed, heading into the locker room trailing just 30–26 after closing the half with consecutive defensive stops.
The third quarter turned into a defensive grind, with both teams trading baskets and limiting clean looks.
Anisa Akinola tied the game at 31–31 with a three-pointer midway through the period, and Pace continued to battle on the glass to limit second-chance opportunities. Despite holding the Owls to eight points in the quarter, the visitors closed the frame on a late run to take a 38–34 lead into the final 10 minutes.
Pace made its push early in the fourth. Akinola converted in transition to cut the deficit to three, and a
Jaylyn Chorba three brought the Setters within 42–40. Ryan later delivered another timely triple to knot the score at 46–46 with just over four minutes remaining. The Owls answered with interior baskets and trips to the free-throw line down the stretch, creating separation in the final minute to capture a 56-49 result.
Ryan finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-9 from three-point range, marking a career-high scoring night and her 100th career three-point field goal. In her stellar evening on the court, Ryan also chipped in three blocks and one steal on the defensive end.
Ciara Collins added 12 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, while Akinola contributed nine points, and eight rebounds.
Next in store for the Setters is a road meeting with the Hawks of Saint Anselm College set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
