Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University guard Gina Catanzariti sunk two free throws with two seconds remaining to defeat Wesley College, 69-68 in a nonconference game on Tuesday.
Rowan improves to 2-2, while Wesley has a 1-3 record. The Profs led 30-26 at halftime. Catanzariti’s (so. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) layup at 17:42 made the score 36-28. The Wolverines fought back and cut the deficit to one (38-37) following a three-pointer by guard Michele Mules (jr. York, PA/Susquehannock) at 15:22. The game was tied at 47 with 8:23 remaining. Wesley went on a 12-2 run to up by 10 (59-49) at 6:34. Forward Colleen Thomas (jr. Howell, NJ/Howell) nailed two three-pointers, while guard Allison Beddia (so. New Castle, DE/Delcastle) and Mules each had one. Rowan followed with a 12-3 surge to come within one (62-61). Guard Alissa Lamey (fr. Fr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) scored six points, while forward Jessica Nimbley (jr. Middletown, NJ/St. John Vianney) and Catanzariti had three apiece.
Rowan guard Brynn DeGroff (sr. Wildwood Crest, NJ/Wildwood) made two free throws at 1:30 to give the Profs a one point lead (65-64). Nimbley followed with two foul shots with 55 seconds left to play. Wesley guard Shavonda Cephas (fr. Milford, DE/Milford) had a layup (:32) and Mules converted two free throws (:05) to go ahead by one (68-67). With two seconds on the clock, Catanzariti was fouled in the act of shooting. She sunk both free throws to give the Profs the win.
Nimbley recorded career-highs with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Catanzariti added 11 points and five boards. Forward Thena Gaines (jr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) compiled 10 points and seven rebounds. Forward Ashley Cieplicki (sr. Haworth, NJ/Dumont) and Lamey contributed with nine and eight points respectively.
For the Wolverines, Thomas had a team-high 21 points. She made five of 11 three-point attempts. Forward Angie Owens (so. Seaford, DE/Seaford) and Mules both scored 14 points. Owens pulled down nine rebounds and blocked six shots. Cephas chipped in with eight points off the bench.
The score was tied seven times in the first half before Rowan went ahead. The last tie (20-20) came at 4:25. The Profs scored the next 10 points for a 30-20 advantage at 1:19. Nimbley scored six of the 10 points. Thomas nailed a three-pointer (:20) and guard Stephanie Bailey (so. Kensington, MD/Walter Johnson) threw up a buzzer beater from half court to cut the deficit to four (30-26) at the intermission. Nimbley posted 12 points and 10 boards in the first period. Thomas had 10 points for the Wolverines.
Rowan hosts Rutgers-Camden in its conference opener on Wednesday, December 3 at 6 p.m.
