Worcester, Mass. (February 6) -- After trailing by 16 points at the half and eventually taking a second-half lead, the Assumption College women's basketball team came up short in a 73-63 home setback to visiting Southern Connecticut on Wednesday night at Laska Gym. Assumption is receiving votes in this week's USA Today Sports Division II National Top-25 Poll.

Both teams got off to a slow start and with 14:25 left in the first, the Owls led by a 10-8 margin following a layup from Assumption's Shannon Ray (Yonkers, N.Y./Ursuline). A 13-4 Southern Connecticut run extended the lead into double digits with just over six minutes left and the Owls maintained a substantial cushion before taking a 35-19 margin into the halftime break. The Hounds were outrebounded by a 23-16 margin in the period and shot just 22 percent from the field.

Assumption went on a 19-6 run over the six minutes of the second half and cut the lead down to 41-37 on a three-pointer from senior Gabrielle Gibson (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) with 14:11 left. The Hounds kept the pressure up and with 8:43 on the clock, Ray knocked down a three to bring Assumption all the way back and tie the game at 47-47.

The Hounds eventually regained the lead at 53-51 with six minutes left, but the visitors went on a quick 16-4 run that was capped by a pair of free throws to make it a double-digit deficit. Assumption never got closer than six the rest of the way as the Owls pulled off the 10-point win.

Gibson was the lone Assumption played in double figures as she finished with 24 points. Moni Smith-Ocran posted a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double for the Owls, along with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double from Jackie Beathea.

With the loss, Assumption drops to 14-6 overall and 11-5 in Northeast-10 play, while Southern Connecticut improves to 6-13 overall and 3-13 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Saturday, February 9th as the Hounds travel to Le Moyne College for a 1 p.m. start in Syracuse, N.Y.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.