BROOKLYN – Despite double-doubles from both Amissa Epperson and Emily Guerra, Pratt women's basketball (4-4) could not overcome an early deficit, falling to Alfred State College, 69-50, Friday evening at the Pratt ARC.
Epperson finished with a game high 20 points and 17 rebounds. Guerra, the reigning HVIAC Rookie of the Week, registered 19 points to go along with 10 boards. Alfred State (8-5) was paced by Catherine Bialecki, who put together a near triple-double, scoring 16 points, grabbing 17 rebounds and blocking nine shots.
The Cannoneers turned the ball over four times in the opening three minutes of the game, but rattled off three-straight jumpers – including two by Guerra – to cut the pioneer's lead to two. After a tightly-contested first 10 minutes, Alfred State regained momentum to close the first half by running off seven consecutive points to increase their lead to 13.
Bialecki asserted herself in the third frame, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 from the field while blocking four on the defensive end, as the Pioneers led by as much as 22. A 6-0 run late in the third gave the Cannoneers some hope, but sloppy ball handling and costly turnovers doomed the home team.
Epperson and Bryce scored all 15 Pratt fourth quarter points, however, the Cannoneers couldn't overcome their earlier mistakes, ultimately falling 69-50.
Pratt continues their home stand on Thursday, January 26 at 6:30pm, when Berkeley College visits the Pratt ARC.
