ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Rowan University women's basketball team won 78-71 over Berry College (GA) in its first game at the St. Pete Classic on Friday night.
 
The event is hosted by Eckerd College. Earlier on Friday, Wisconsin Lutheran College defeated Wells College, 89-45 and Carthage College had a 63-48 victory over Messiah College. The Profs have an overall record of 9-1 and the Vikings are 7-3.
 
Guard Anyssa Sanchez (so. Stratford, NJ/Sterling) scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. Center Kate Matthews (jr. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) registered a double-double with 15 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. Guard Jade Bonder (sr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) added 13 points and guard Bria Hill (sr. Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) chipped in with 12.
 
For Berry, guard Zarriah Pierce (fr. Chesapeake, VA/Hillgrove) led all scorers with 20 points. Guard Chanlir Segarra (sr. Cooper City, FL/Cooper City) recorded 14 points. Guard Mel McLean (sr. Cave Spring, GA/Coosa) produced 13 points and nine rebounds. Forward/center Emma Cook (so. Canton, GA/Creekview) and forward Valerie McLure (so. Perry, GA/Westfield School) each tallied 10 points. McLure also grabbed nine rebounds.
 
The score was tied at two (18:58) then a three-pointer from guard Kaitlin Schullstrom (jr. Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) and a jumper by Matthews gave Rowan a 7-2 lead (18:08). Forward Summer Crilley (fr. Galloway, NJ/Holy Spirit) and guard Valerie Garofalo (so. Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) converted back-to-back baskets for a 21-15 advantage (11:01). McLure's jumper (7:12) got Berry to within four (23-19) then Rowan scored five straight points to go ahead 28-19 (4:41). Matthews made two free throws and Sanchez hit a triple. Segarra registered a layup (0:29) to make the halftime score 31-25.
 
A basket by McLean cut the deficit to one (35-34) at the 17:42 mark of the second half. The Profs then scored seven consecutive points for a 42-34 lead (15:52). Bonder had five points and Hill, two. The score was 45-43 after a McLure basket (12:30). Rowan then used a 14-5 run to open up an 11-point lead (59-48) with 8:41 on the clock. Hill recorded six points. Crilley's basket extended the Rowan advantage to 65-52 (5:34).
 
A 12-1 spurt by Berry trimmed the Rowan lead to 66-64 (2:41). Pierce tallied six points. Bonder's jumper and two free throws gave Rowan a six-point advantage, 70-64 with 1:50 left. The Profs then converted eight free throws in the final 1:20 to ice the game. Sanchez made three, forward Melissa Lake (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and Bonder, two and Hill had one.