Championship Central (follow this link throughout the week for updated results, bracket, schedule, ...)
KINGS POINT, N.Y. I No. 2 Mount Saint Mary stunned top-seeded U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in overtime, 81-76, in the 2025 Skyline Conference Women's Basketball Championship final at the Liebertz Gymnasium.
The setback drops the Mariners' record to 24-2, while MSMC improves to 17-10 and earns the Skyline's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. In the process, MSMC ends USMMA's 23-game win streak, which included a conference semifinal victory Thursday.
Mount Saint Mary was led by the tournament's Most Outstanding Player Brianna Guglielmo, who drained a game-high 29 points and swiped a game-best six steals.
Four other Knights scored in double-figures, as Casey Love and Margaret Trinkaus both added 11 points each and Kate Hughes chipped in 10 points to go along with a team-best six rebounds.
Three players recorded double-doubles for the Mariners, as Carolae Barton had a team-high 22 points to go along with 12 rebounds, Emily Grasseler scored 21 and led all players with 13 rebounds and Hannah Ramsden added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Knights will learn their NCAA fate on Monday at 2:30 p.m. during the NCAA DIII Selection Show. The Mariners can still earn an at-large bid themselves, since they entered today as the No. 1 team in the region.
Mount Saint Mary went toe-to-toe with the Skyline undefeated Mariners, but the Knights started off shaky, going down 12-0 in the first 5:36 of the first quarter. Ciarra Quinn would break the ice for the Mount, but it seemed like the Mariners could not miss.
Merchant Marine led by as much as 15 in the opening quarter. Mount Saint Mary has struggled in the opening halves this season when facing the Mariners. The Knights trailed by 8 at the half of their first go around, 9-1 in their second match, and 22-7 in this one. MSMC's Lizzy Lofaro knocked down a 3 at the end of the quarter to make it 22-12 Mariners.
The Knights would rally with a 13-0 run to steal the lead right from the Mariners and go up 28-26. Hughes dominated the remainder of the half, helping to put the Knights up 36-33 heading into the locker room.
There was still a lot of work left to do with 20 minutes still left in regulation. Merchant would take the lead back to start the half, but Love drain a 3 to put the Mount back up, 41-38.
Shortly later, Merchant Marine would cut their deficit to just 1 after a last-second layup to round out the third quarter.
The Knights trailed 65-59 with two minutes to play and Guglielmo drained a 3.
Trinkaus would force a steal and tie the game up, 65-65. Lauren Petrie had three blocks on the afternoon and made a crucial defensive play to prevent the Mariners from scoring, forcing overtime.
It was only fitting that these two teams would settle the title in overtime for a third straight time this season. Merchant Marine got the better of the Mount in the first two games.
Down 71-67, the Knights scored eight straight starting off with a take to the hole from Angelina Donato. The Knights would knock down their free throws and beat Merchant Marine to secure their 15th Skyline Championship in program history.
-With MSMC Sports Information