NEW YORK, NY – Guard Grace Marshall scored a career-high 29 points to lead the Rowan University women's basketball team over Western Connecticut State University, 88-86 in the Hunter College Tip-Off Tournament. 
 
The Profs (2-0) play Hunter (1-1) in the championship on Saturday at 2 p.m.  Prior, Western Connecticut (1-3) meets The College of Old Westbury (0-1) at noon in the consolation game.  In the opener, Hunter defeated Old Westbury, 76-61.
 
Marshall was 10-for-16 from the floor with three three-pointers and a perfect six-for-six from the line.  She also recorded a career mark with eight steals and grabbed seven rebounds.  Guard Nicole Mallard contributed with 15 points and seven boards.  Guard Savanna Holt chipped in with 12 points.  Guard Alexis Kriley dished five assists and center Ayanna Johnson blocked three shots.
 
Guard Susana Almedia led the Colonials with 21 points.  Guard Jasmine Caldwell produced a double-double with 14 points and 14 boards. Guard Gabrielle Hurlbert added 14 points.
  
After trailing by 14, Western Connecticut pulled within one point (77-76) at the four minute mark in the last quarter.  Almedia nailed a three-pointer then Rowan had seven straight points to lead 84-76 with 2:52 left.  Mallard contributed with three points while Kriley and Marshall had two apiece. Forward Eliana Santana's layup gave Rowan a nine point advantage (88-79) at 1:17.  The Colonials applied the pressure and scored seven points to cut the deficit to two (88-86) at the 38 second mark.  Western Connecticut missed a layup with six seconds remaining and Marshall came down with the rebound.         
 
The Colonials started the third quarter with eight points to go ahead 42-38 with 8:21 on the clock.  Guard Genesis Torres hit two threes and guard Jessica Davis had a layup.  The Colonials were up 48-44 (5:58) then the Profs scored 21 unanswered points to lead by 17 (65-48) with 1:24 left.  Marshall led the way with seven points in the run followed by Mallard with six.  Rowan was ahead by 14 (65-51) going into the final quarter.
 
The Profs trailed 20-16 after the first quarter.  Holt tied the score at 22 (7:59) with a three-pointer in the second and Marshall followed with two threes for a 28-22 advantage at 6:42.  The Colonials pulled within one (32-31) after five straight points with 2:21 remaining. The Profs closed the half with a 6-3 run to lead 38-34 at the break.  Guard Kennedy Brown contributed with a three-pointer while guard Paige Caldwell and Marshall had two and one free throws respectively.