Sheldon Griffin sinks tie-breaking three pointer in last seconds to put Golden Knights three over Saint Michael’s 71-68 at the buzzer. Coach Laurie Darling Gutheil, player Carmelina Puopolo and the women’s soccer team congratulated in special halftime ceremony.
By IAN BENJAMIN
Executive Editor
The Golden Knights held off fellow NE-10 opponent Saint Michael’s in a conference game Saturday at the Nolan Gymnasium.
Nearly topped on the scoreboard several times in both periods by strong Saint Michael’s play, Sheldon Griffin saved the Golden Knights from a tie, sinking a three pointer from the right wing with seconds left on the clock. Griffin put up 16 points during the game, followed by Kareem Thomas with 12.
The Purple Knights outscored the Golden 41-38 in the second half, but lost overall to give them their second loss in a row and their sixth game lost by six points or less. Saint Michael’s stands at 7-10 overall (6-7 NE-10) and–with this game in the bag–Saint Rose is at 3-14 (3-10 NE-10).
On the Purple Knights side, sophomore Mike Holton Jr. led all with 10-for-10 on free throws and 23 points, a game high. Meanwhile, freshman teammate Corey Crawford put up 16 points and three assists.
Across the court, Thomas garnered 12 points and four steals, Griffin put away 16 points and seven rebounds, but senior Rob Gutierrez was the stand out, netting 21 points and hitting all of his nine free throw tries.
At the 10 minute mark in the first period, the game was tied 11-11. For the next five minutes of play Saint Michael’s trailed Saint Rose by no more than three points until Thomas put Saint Rose ahead 21-15 with a three-point swish. Saint Michael’s quickly closed the gap, after a series of fouls left the Golden Knights looking at a two-point lead, 21-19, with four minutes left on the clock.
Before breaking for a timeout at 3:50, Rob Gutierrez finished off a lay-up. After the pause, Saint Rose pulled away once more to leave the Purple Knights five points behind with Thomas securing a two point basket and another two points from the line by Sheldon Griffin. Despite a steal by the Purple Knights at the two-minute mark, there was no capitalization, leaving 33-24 with 15 seconds left. Saint Michael’s finished out the period to leave it 33-27 at the half.
During halftime there was a special congratulatory ceremony for the Saint Rose women’s soccer team’s upon their capturing of the NCAA Division II National Championship. The victory over Grand Valley State in Pensacola, Florida early last December earned the College the first national women’s soccer trophy.
As their names were announced, the champions walked between lines of cheerleaders with swishing pom-poms and to the accompanying plaudits of the crowd of more than 400. The congratulatory corridor of cheerleaders led to center floor where R. Mark Sullivan, president of the College, and athletic director Catherine Haker, director of athletics and recreation, awaited them with handshakes. Each player was presented with the jersey they wore during the victory game. Especially commended were player sophomore Carmelina Puopolo and coach Laurie Darling Gutheil, last to enter the gymnasium.
Sophomore forward Puopolo scored both of the Saint Rose goals in the championship game later earning her the 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Player of the Year. The first goal came when Saint Rose was down 0-1 against top-ranked and defending national champion Grand Valley State (MI).
Gutheil was awarded the honor of NSCAA/NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year as part of an awards banquet held in Kansas City, Missouri Jan. 17. It is the second time she has garnered the award.
The special halftime event concluded with a photo-shoot and a performance by the Saint Rose cheer squad.
After a number of missed baskets by both teams, scoring began to get underway when senior forward Brian Hanuschak put up the first basket, a trey, in the second period. Teams traded baskets until the 17:30, when Saint Rose began a six point run topped by a steal-and-sink from Kareem Thomas to bring it to 42-34 at 16:33.
Unfortunately for Saint Rose, a series of misses and giveaways quickly brought Saint Michael’s back into the fray. With the Golden Knights putting up the ball, but not the points, Michael’s was able to sink three two-pointers in a row to put the score at 42-41 at the 15 minute mark. The teams then traded points, with the Purple Knights trailing, until a long shot from Saint Michael’s momentarily brought the visitors 1 point over Saint Rose, 51-50.
With five minutes left in the second half it looked like the home team was finally pulling away, having taken a six point lead on a series of free throws, but the game was again tied 66-66 at 1:21. A free throw made by Thomas finally brought the game to 68-66 with 25 seconds, but the sinking of two free throws by Saint Michael’s made it look like the visitors were just going to grasp a tie. Yet, in the dying seconds of the second half, Sheldon Griffin threw a long shot from the far right wing to clinch a win for the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights are set to meet UMass Lowell this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. while the Purple Knights will be heading to a simultaneous contest at Assumption College.
