ALBANY, N.Y. – SUNYIT (0-3) lost another close one on the road Sunday afternoon as the Albany College of Pharmacy Panthers (5-1) won at home, 69-64. SUNYIT pulled to within two in the second half, but just couldn't get over the hump against a Panther team that's off to a hot start in 2012 at 5-1.
On the plus side for the Wildcats was defending NEAC Player of the Year Lyndsey Brognano (Rome, N.Y. / RFA) turning in her best game of the young season. The senior poured in a team-high 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting (2 of 7 from three-point range). Brognano was also perfect from the line, making all five of her free throw attempts.
SUNYIT was down just 31-30 at the half, but the Panthers opened up the second half on a 6-0 run to start the half and never looked back. Leading the Panthers was Alyson Johnson who had a monster game with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. After the Wildcats pulled to within two at 37-35 with 15:11 to play, Johnson scored the Panther's next 8 points to put the home team back up by eight.
The Wildcats benefited from the play of their veterans Sunday afternoon, as junior Abbey Hanehan (Stillwater, N.Y. / Stillwater) joined Brognano as the only other Wildcat in double figures by scoring 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Fellow returning starter Ashley Schmidt (Camden, N.Y. / Camden) grabbed ten rebounds to lead all players in that category.
The Wildcats will look to get firing on all cylinders when they play their first home game this Friday, December 7th, at 6:00 pm. The Wildcats host the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland.