Patterson's Lay-Up Lifts UB Women To 55-54 Comeback ECC Home Win Over Roberts Wesleyan

Bridgeport, Conn. – Senior Aziza Patterson (Teaneck, N.J.) scored the game-winning layup with 2.0 seconds left on the clock to give the University of Bridgeport women's basketball team a come-from-behind East Coast Conference home victory over the Roberts Wesleyan College Redhawks, 55-54 on Friday night. With the win the Purple Knights snap a three-game losing streak to move to 4-10 overall on the season, and 2-6 in conference play. The Redhawks drop to 6-7 overall and 2-5 in the ECC. 

Both teams struggled to score in the first half as Bridgeport shot 13.3 percent (4-of-30) from the floor, all of which were three-point baskets, and Roberts Wesleyan shot 20.7 percent (6-of-29) to take a 20-18 lead into halftime. RWC came out of halftime on an 11-4 run to push UB's deficit to nine points, 31-22, the Redhawks' largest advantage of the game. From that point forward, Purple Knights' junior guard Tiara Aziz (Easton, Pa.) started to take over.

Aziz scored 18 of her 19 points in the second half, which were a game high, to lead the Purple Knights surge to victory. With 4:13 left to play Aziz hit a layup to tie the game at 49-49. Roberts Wesleyan responded with the next five points to lead 54-49 with 1:00 minute remaining, but Aziz and Patterson combined for the final six points of the contest, including Patterson's game-winning layup.

Sophomore Shannon Holt (Holden, Mass.) led the Purple Knights in rebounds with 10 on the night. Jennifer Kucukkaya (Jr., Sodertalje, Sweden) added eight points and two steals.  Aziza Patterson finished with 15 points on the night for the winners.

Emily Piacentini scored 10 points for the Redhawks in the defeat.    

UB finishes up its homestand with a game tomorrow, Saturday January 18 versus ECC newcomers Daemen College. Tip-off set for 2:00 pm.