FELICIAN OPENS SEASON, EDGED BY MERCY, 75-73

Mavericks Earn Non-Conference Road Victory

RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Felician College women’s basketball team opened its 2010-11 season on Thursday night, losing a 75-73 non-conference decision to visiting Mercy College at Job Gymnasium.

Mercy (2-2) used a 17-0 second-half run, capped by consecutive three-point field goals from Maria Nardulli (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph by-the-Sea) to turn a nine-point deficit into a 54-46 edge with six minutes, 40 seconds left in the contest. Moments later, the Mavericks took their largest lead of the game at 57-48.

Felician never completely erased the deficit. The Golden Falcons pulled to within 69-68 with fewer than 40 seconds to play, but Mercy was solid at the free throw line. A three-point field goal by Tierra Cleaves (Paterson, NJ/JFK) (5-8 FG, 15 points) and a Maverick turnover on the in-bounds pass with 2.4 seconds left gave Felician one final chance. But trailing 75-73, the Golden Falcons had their in-bounds play broken up as time expired.

Four players in the game turned in double-doubles. For Felician, senior Quay Baskerville (Hartford, CT/Bulkeley) recorded 14 points (all in the second half) and 12 rebounds, while junior Jessica Ford (Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony) accumulated 13 points and 10 boards. Mercy’s Talia Beaulieu (Waldorf, MD/McDonough) posted 17 points and 11 rebounds and teammate Jasmine Williams (Stratford, CT/Greens Farms Academy) had 15 points and 12 caroms off the bench.

Golden Falcon junior Destiny Barnette (Paterson, NJ/PCTI) led all scorers with 18 points. Felician led 32-29, at halftime, and by as many as nine points on three occasions in the second period.