#2 Amherst 70, Stockton 55

LaTonya Oliver

Boxscore
For the third time in six days, Richard Stockton (7-8) played a nationally ranked team. This time, second-ranked Amherst (16-0) came calling to Pomona and came away with a 70-55 victory in a Monday afternoon matinee. For Stockton, LaTonya Oliver (West Berlin/Overbrook) tallied 14 points and Aliyah Nelson (Pleasantville/St. Joseph) chipped in with 11. Freshman Noelle Hogan (Mullica Hill/ Clearview) led the Ospreys with nine boards.

Stockton led 28-26 at the end of a close first half that included seven lead changes and five ties. The Ospreys opened up an early 11-6 lead after a three-point play by Nelson and four-point bulge late in the half on a basket by Oliver before settling for the two-point advantage at the break. Oliver led all scorers with eight first-half points on 4-5 shooting.

The Lord Jeffs took control in the second half, outscoring Stockton 44-27. After an early jumper by Oliver put the Ospreys ahead 30-29, Amherst went on a 14-6 run over the next four minutes and never relinquished the lead. Julia Fagan (New Britain, CT/New Britain) hit a free throw to pull Stockton within 43-40, but Amherst pulled away and led by double digits for the last 10 minutes. The Ospreys completed their difficult stretch of three straight games against ranked opponents with a 70-55 defeat.