MCC Comeback Falls Short at Avery Point

GROTON, CT – The game had been circled on the calendar for months and as far as drama goes, it did not disappoint.

UConn at Avery Point’s basket with 18 seconds left nullified a valiant MCC comeback and gave the home team a 77-75 victory Tuesday night in Groton.

UCAP (7-1), who jumped out to a 17-7 early lead, held it until Amanda Morales (West Hartford) tied the game at 71 all with a pair of free-throws with 1:44 left. Katurah Andrews’ (East Hartford) fade-away gave MCC a brief 75-73 lead – its only one of the evening – before UCAP scored four unanswered points to close out its fourth straight win.

MCC (8-2) trailed 37-25 at the half and by as much as 14 midway through the second half.

“It was a good comeback,” Head Coach Robert Turner said on the bus ride home after his team’s string of six straight wins was snapped. “We played well over the final ten minutes of the game.” Turner’s team, which was beaten on the court for the first time this season, outscored its host 50-40 over the final twenty minutes. MCC’s only other loss was against Holyoke in a game they had to forfeit for inadvertently using an ineligible player.

Morales and Shanika Hines (Manchester) both drained key three-points during the comeback run and led all scorers 18 points each. Erika Murphy (Torrington) turned in another strong game with 17 points and nine rebounds. The freshman was also 5 for 6 from the line. Morales made 8 of 9 free-throw attempts.

Former Bolton High player Karen Manning (10 points) and Sarah Paternostro (Glastonbury/16 points) were outstanding for UCAP.

“In the first half, we were spectators – were out-hustled and outplayed,” Turner said after his team played its final game of 2008. “UConn doesn’t make the mistakes other teams do, but I knew we were going to make a run.”

The two Region 21 South Division rivals meet again on Wednesday, February 11 at East Catholic in an 8pm game that should already be circled on your schedule.