Purple Knights Fall In See-Saw ECC Women's Basketball Contest At Daemen, 83-78

Amherst, N.Y.-The University of Bridgeport women's basketball team led 63-62 heading into the fourth quarter at Daemen College on Thursday evening, but the host Wildcats outscored the visiting Purple Knights, 21-15, in the final quarter to record an 83-78 East Coast Conference victory.  Thursday's contest was a back-and-forth affair that featured 17 lead changes and five ties on the night.

With the loss, UB is now 11-10 overall and 5-6 in conference play.  Diemen is now 10-1 overall and 7-8 in the ECC.

Junior Aurelia Leblanc-Floret (Longueil, Quebec, Canada) led Bridgeport in scoring with 23 points, as she connected on six three-point shots. 

Leblanc-Floret was joined in double figures by sophomore Nicole Johnson (Newark, N.J.), who added 14 points for the Purple Knights.

Senior Evelyn Ovner (Valentina, Sweden) led UB on the glass with 12 rebounds, and her twin sister Louise Ovner (Sr., Valentina, Sweden) also added 11 boards off the Bridgeport bench.

The Purple Knights dominated the game on the backboards outrebounding Daemen, 53-35.  Bridgeport scored 23 second chance points on the night, as 23 of those rebounds came on the offensive glass.

The host Wildcats, who were led by Sara Saba's game-high 26 points, counteracted Bridgeport's rebounding edge by shooting 45.0 percent from three-point range (9-of-20), and Daemen also connected on 14-of-19 free throws; while the Purple Knights struggled at the foul line hitting only 9-of-17 free throws.

The UB women's basketball team will look to get back in the win column and snap a two-game losing streak on Friday night at Roberts Wesleyan College.  Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.