Williams Holds Off Mount St. Mary For Win In NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

Courtesy Ithaca Sports Information

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Williams Ephs (19-7) never trailed in beating the Mount St. Mary Blue Knights (22-6) 62-56 in a first-round NCAA playoff game Friday at Ithaca. The Ephs advance to the regional final (Saturday at 7 p.m.) where they will take on the DeSales Bulldogs.

Williams posted the third-highest point total of the season against the Blue Knights – who came into the game with the top-ranked scoring and field-goal defense in Division III – and led by as many as 14 points before Mount St. Mary rallied late.

The Blue Knights held the Ephs to just two baskets over a 12:30 span, turning a 45-31 Williams lead into a 50-49 advantage. Junior forward Jess Tice scored five of Mount St. Mary’s points in the run, including the lay-up that pulled the Knights to within a point. They missed a free throw that would have tied the game for the first time since a 4-4 deadlock.

Sophomore point guard Jill Greenberg (Westwood, Mass.) led Williams with a game-high 16 points. She added eight of the Ephs’ 17 steals. Freshman guard Jennie Harding (Santa Monica, Calif.) collected 13 points, eight rebounds and a team-best four assists and junior forward Chessie Jackson (Goleta, Calif.) added 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Jackson became the program’s 13th 1,000-point scorer as well. Junior forward Taylor Shea (Allendale, N.J.) was the game’s top rebounder, finishing with 14.

Mount St. Mary, who fell to 3-11 all-time in NCAA play was appearing in the national tournament for the 11th year in a row. The Blue Knights were led by Tice’s 13 points. She pulled down eight rebounds. Senior guard Chrissy Zrowka and senior forward Shannon Sangster both scored 12 points. Zrowka made five steals and Sangster led Mount St. Mary with nine rebounds.

Williams, who is in the NCAA playoffs for the fifth time, is now 6-4 in the NCAA tournament.