Box Score

The Griffin basketball team opened their season at the MEC/PSAC Challenge on Friday afternoon in Institute, WV.  Seton Hill took on the host WV State in the first game on the challenge.  SHU battled back from an early deficit to take a 14 point lead in the second half, only to see that disappear, before retaking the lead late and coming away with a 68-65 victory.

WV State scored the first 8 points of the contest to take a quick 8-0 lead.  SHU got back to within two points at 11-9 on a layin from Lindsey Mifsud with 13:09 to play in the half.  State then went on another 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the contest at 19-9 with 12 minutes remaining in the half.  SHU then cut the lead back to two at 24-22 on two baskets from Mariah Wells and one from Meghan Mastroianni.  State scored the next 5 points before Wells hit a three and a jumper to cut the lead to 29-27 with 3:36 left in the first half.  The Griffins continued the run and took their first lead on a Halie Torris three pointer with three minutes to play in the half.  Two free throws from Jharrin Gill and a layin from Mifsud increased the lead to 34-29 with two minutes to play.  Mifsud hit a three pointer before the buzzer to give SHU a 39-33 halftime lead.

Seton Hill started off the second half on an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game on a Wells layup at 47-33 just under four minutes into the second half.  Jenna Kaufman's layin gave SHU a 53-39 lead with 11:16 to play in the half.  Over the next four minutes, State went on a 13-0 run to trim the Griffins lead to 53-52 with 7:16 left.  A jumper from Cha Cha Williams ended the run and increased the Griffins lead back to three points.  State tied the score at 57 with just over 6 minutes to play.  Wells hit one of two free throws before State hit a jumper to take their first lead of the half at 59-58.  State increased their lead to 62-58 with just under 4 minutes left.  A layup from Williams and a basket from Torris tied the score at 62.  Two free throws from Wells gave SHU the 64-62 lead.  A layin from Chelsea Apke increased the lead to 66-62 with just over a minute to play.  State trimmed the lead to 66-65 before two free throws from Misfud increased the lead to 68-65 with 11 seconds left.  One of State's three pointers to tie was blocked by Wells and another three pointer was missed at the buzzer.

Mariah Wells led the Griffins with 14 points.  Lindsey Mifsud and Halie Torris each scored 10 points in the first collegiate game. 

Seton Hill will take on Charleston on Saturday afternoon.