WATERVILLE, Maine – The Thomas College women's basketball team fell short of Fisher College (Mass.), 85-84, in the final game of the Thomas Tip-Off Classic on Sunday afternoon at Larry Mahaney Gymnasium.
The Terriers now sit at 1-2 on the season while the Falcons improve to .500 at 3-3.
The Falcons jumped on the Terriers offensively in the opening minutes as they stormed out on a 15-2 run on four three-pointers. Jocelyn Mendoza led the charge with six points while Madison Carroll and Jameela Olivo each chipped in with five throughout the quarter. The Terriers rallied back late as key threes from Karli Stubbs (Auburn, Maine) and Sammie Griffin (Union, Maine) brought the score to 20-15 to end the first.
The Terriers closed the gap into the second quarter as Molly Carroll (Southwest Harbor, Maine) recorded three straight buckets to give the Terriers a 30-28 lead. The advantage was short lived as Madison Carroll finished the frame with eight points for the Falcons along with a three from Mendoza to enter the half up 41-34.
Thomas continued to claw their way back as Stubbs knocked down four shots from behind the arch in the third quarter to tie the game up at 55-55 with two minutes left. Madison Carroll finished the quarter strong to keep the Falcons ahead. Jordan Turner's (Casco, Maine) buzzer beat brought the Terriers back within two points to end the frame.
Fisher pulled away once again midway through the final quarter as two threes from Choon-Hee Chae and clutch shots from Olivo gave their team an 80-67 lead with 4:23 remaining. Thomas went on a late 8-0 run to charge back within four with just over a minute left. After a missed free throw and down by three, Griffin buried a three to tie the game up at 84-84. On the ensuing play, the Terriers fouled Mendoza with a second remaining. On the line, Mendoza knocked down her second free throw to take the 85-84 victory.
The Falcons were led by Madison Carroll on 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists while Chae added 18 points five boards, and three steals. Olivio and Murphy Carroll each added 15 points in the win. As a team, Fisher shot 14-for-27 from behind the arch.
Carroll finished with a career-high 23 points and seven rebounds on 10-of-15 shooting for Thomas. Stubbs contributed with a double-double on 21 points and ten rebounds.
The Falcons will play host to the Beacons of the University of Massachusetts Boston on Tuesday, November 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.