[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Lady Knights Outlasted by No. 14 Ranked DI Harford Owls 66-60

12.30.17

Warwick, R.I. – January 2, 2018: The CCRI Lady Knights basketball team continued play in the National Title IX Holiday Classic in Washington, DC on Friday. In their first contest they bested Frederick Community College 54-52. In their second game the Lady Knights faced the No. 14 ranked and Division I power Owls of Harford College from Bel Air, MD (10-1). CCRI fell to the Owls 66-60. With the loss the Lady Knights drop to 10-5 on the season.

This was going to be the Lady Knights toughest game to date versus the very tall and talented Division I Owls squad from Harford College. Both teams could not buy a basket as the game began as they each had over to possessions apiece but the game remained scoreless Harford made a basket to end the scoring drought. CCRI took a four point 10-6 lead on a 3-pointer from D'Asia Allen (Providence, RI) late in the first quarter and Harford answered back with a basket to end the first quarter with the score 10-8 Lady Knights. Harford began to pick up the momentum in the second quarter but the 3-point shooting of the Lady Knights kept them in the game as D'Asia Allen sank two more 3-pointer while Co-Captain Tiondra Hands (Boynton, Beach, FL) and sophomore Nia Mims (Bethlehem, PA) added one apiece. Harford went into the halftime break with a slim 28-26 lead.

In the third quarter the Owls began to flex their muscles and took the first double-digit lead on the game up 39-28 Nia Mims answered with two clutch 3-pointers while Tiondra Hands added a basket to cut the Harford lead back to just three points 39-36. Harford answered back with an 8-1 run to regain the double-digit lead 47-37. The Lady Knights closed out the quarter with a 9-5 run spurred by another D'Asia Allen 3-pointer to go into the final quarter trailing 52-46. Harford put their foot down in the fourth quarter and scored the first seven points to take a 13-point lead Nia Mims answered with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 10 points but the owls answered with five points for their biggest lead of the game 64-49. However, the Lady Knights showed no quit as they outscored Harford 11-2 over the final few minutes of the game with 3-pointers form Allen and Mims but it was not enough as Harford would hold on for the 66-60 victory.

Leading the way for the Lady Knights was sophomore D'Asia Allen with a season-high 18 points while shooting 6-10 from 3-pointland with three rebounds. Allen was assisted by sophomore Nia Mims who scored 17 points including four 3-pointers with five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a blocked shot and Co-Captain Tiondra Hands with 11 points including three 3-pointers, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. Rounding out the CCRI leaders was Co-Captain Kelsey Hernandez (New Britain, CT) who had six points, four assists and three steals while Waleska Kelly (Pawtucket, RI) added four points, seven rebounds, a steal and three blocked shots.

The Lady Knights will conclude play in the DC Title IX Classic Saturday when they will face another very good squad in the Bobcats of Bryant & Stratton College from Virginia Beach, VA at 8pm.

For all things CCRI Athletics, be sure to follow @CCRIAthletics on Instagram and Twitter!
The Community College of Rhode Island, New England's largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 16,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.