SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Saint Leo women’s basketball team (4-4), behind a career-high 18 points from freshman Chelsea Williams and a 16-3 second half run, defeated the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, 48-44, Tuesday afternoon from the Bayamon Gymnasium, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In a game controlled mostly by post position players, Lauren Lee contributed to Williams’ career night with 12 points and six rebounds of her own. Keishara Green crashed the boards for a game-best nine rebounds, while Brittany Carannante set a new career-high with seven steals.
In total, the Lions interior group outscored Rio Piedras, 26-14 and out-rebounded the smaller host team, 48-30.
After falling behind 4-0 to begin the game, Williams scored five of the next seven points to put the Lions up 7-4. The low scoring affair saw Rio Piedras regain a 13-8 advantage with 10:01 left to play in the half. Still, Williams continued to supplant herself as the game’s best player. The forward scored seven consecutive points over a three minute span to single handedly give the Lions a one point lead heading into the final third of the half.
Going point-for-point, Saint Leo and Rio Piedras exchanged leads for the next few moments until Rio Piedras’ Yesenia Tosado sank a three-point field goal to give Piedras the lead for the remainder of the half.
Down 26-22 out of the break, the Lions clamped down on the defensive side of the ball holding Piedras to just 30 percent shooting for the final 20 minutes.
Despite the superb defense, the Lions’ offense sputtered, scoring only eight points over the first nine minutes of the period. However, a Green basket with 11:02 remaining sparked a 16-3 run, proving to be the turning point for the Green & Gold.
The run, which consumed 10 of the final 11 minutes, was led by Lee as she converted on a pair of layups and a free throw to eventually seal the game.
Rio Piedras connected on a pair of baskets in the final minute to close the gap to its eventual four-point margin.
The Lions will continue their road swing through Puerto Rico on Wednesday, December 15 when they take on the University of Puerto-Rico Mayaguez from the Bayamon Complex. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. EST.
