LOCH SHELDRAKE, N.Y. - The Generals were able to survive a tough test Saturday, defeating nationally-ranked UCONN Avery Point 85-68, thanks in large part to stout second half defense and a well-balanced offense.

With the win, the Generals improve to 8-3 on the year. The Pointers, ranked 7th in the nation among NJCAA Division III teams, drop to 6-3 overall.

The Generals got on the board before the game even started due to an error in the scorebook for UCONN Avery Point. Traynise Delaney hit one of two technical free throws to give the Generals a 1-0 advantage before tip-off.

Jade Walls opened the scoring during regulation with a spin move through the lane to give the Generals the early 3-0 lead before Mia Brennan answered right back with her first of six three pointers on the night.

Both offenses traded baskets early in the first quarter, until Brennan took matters into her own hands and scored 14 points in a row for the Pointers, giving them a 20-11 lead.

The Generals would answer late in the quarter however, and finish the first quarter down 23-19.

A Jayda Allen pull-up jumper from the baseline opened the scoring in the second quarter. Back to back trips to the free throw line would pull the Generals within two, however the Pointers answered the rally like they did all half, this time courtesy of a Rebekah Sanders jumper to give her team a 28-24 lead.

Brennan would go on another run of her own, hitting a three pointer from the right wing, while being fouled on the play, and the ensuing free throw, before hitting four more free throws the next time down the floor to extend the Pointers lead to 36-26 with 4:50 left to play in the half.

The Generals would claw back, cutting the deficit to eight with less than a minute to play in the first half, but could not convert on the offensive end after forcing two turnovers before halftime, and went into the break down 40-32.

Delaney, who sat most of the first half with foul trouble, came out of the break firing, hitting a runner on each of the Generals' first two possessions.

Jordan Meaurie-Pickett got in on the action, scoring on back to back possessions to keep pace with the Pointers offense and keep the score 47-40.

After the two teams traded baskets, it was Brennan yet again who gave the Pointers some breathing room, going to the line knocking down both free throws before hitting a three on the next possession to extend the Pointers' lead to 10 with 3:23 left in the third.

With just over a minute to go in the third, the Generals found themselves down 56-48, but put together a 6-0 run, courtesy of two free throws and a layup from Jade Walls and two free throws from Shatoya Newine, to go into the final quarter down 58-54.

An old-fashioned three pointer from Pickett with just under two minutes gone in the fourth quarter put the Generals ahead 61-60, a lead they would not give up the rest of the game.

With just over 5:00 to play, the Pointers scored and forced a turnover, sending Julitza Delgado to the line, where she hit one of two free throws to bring the Pointers within six, however that was as close as the Pointers would get.

Tough defense and tenacious rebounding created transition opportunities for the Generals, who were able to outrun the tired Pointers to a 31-10 fourth quarter.

Pickett and Delaney scored in transition on back to back possessions to push the lead to 10 and the Generals never looked back from there, going on a 12-0 run to take an 83-65 lead.

The Generals lead would balloon to as much as 20 before finishing with a 17-point win.

Pickett led the Generals with 21 points, while Delaney, Walls and Allen all finished in double digits.

Brennan, who came into the game ranked sixth in NJCAA DIII in scoring, led all scorers with 37 points.

The Generals are back in action Tuesday when they head to Union County College in Cranford, N.J. The Owls are 8-3 on the year and tied for third place in the Garden State Athletic Conference.
 

---

   

---