Women’s Basketball kicks off 2024 with comeback win over Mount Aloysius

CRESSON, Pa. --- Carlow University women's basketball kicked off the new year with a 64-62 comeback victory over Mount Aloysius College on the road Wednesday.

Emiley Hillgartner sank three of Carlow's four treys on the night to lead the team with 23 points and three steals.

Shaelyn Clark went 12 for 14 at the foul line to contribute 18 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. Sydney Carr added 14 points and three assists and tied her season-high with seven steals.

The Mounties (4-8, 1-4 AMCC) shot better from the field (23 for 56), but the Celtics (4-5, 3-2 AMCC) scored 20 points at the foul line alone.

Mount Aloysius got off to a hot start, leading 11-3 midway through the first quarter. Carlow chipped away toward the end of the quarter to trail by six.

The Mounties went on an 11-2 run to begin the second quarter, leading the Celtics by nine points at the half.

Emari Stinnette cut Mount Aloysius' lead to seven with a pair of free throws in the third quarter.

Neither team would score for over two minutes until an Emma Aubrey trey broke the stalemate, putting the Celtics within four of tying the score.

A layup cut the Mounties' lead to two, but they remained just ahead of the Celtics throughout the third quarter.

Mount Aloysius pushed its advantage to nine points early in the fourth.

Carlow outscored Mount Aloysius, 20-13, in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics did not gain the advantage until less than a minute remained in regulation.

A free throw from Clark tied the game, 60-all, and she sank her second shot to give Carlow its first lead of the night with 40 seconds on the clock.

Forced to foul to regain possession, the Mounties sent Clark to the line again where she landed both shots to put Carlow ahead, 63-60.

Mount Aloysius missed a three-point attempt and a jumper, but another offensive rebound afforded them a layup to cut Carlow's advantage to one.

Aubrey hit a foul shot to put the Celtics up, 64-62, with five seconds left and the Carlow defense foiled another three-point attempt to secure the win.

Carlow scored 26 points after forcing 33 Mount Aloysius turnovers on the evening.

The Mounties outrebounded the Celtics, 50-27, and outscored Carlow, 40-26, in the paint.

Molly Kosmack led the Mounties with a game-high, double-double 32 points and 16 rebounds. Jade Love-Morris also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.

The Celtics host Pitt Bradford for a 2 p.m. game at Donahue Pavilion Jan. 6.