Lady Lions fight to buzzer for road win

Julie Ann Rumiano didn't score a lot of points Friday, but when she scored she made it count.

The spirited sophomore went to the hoop with 41 ticks remaining and the Lions trailing 44-43, and was able to get the shot to fall for her first - and only - bucket of the game while drawing a foul. She then calmly sank the ensuing free throw for the final margin of victory in an exciting 46-44 ballgame.

Rumiano came into play with 22 points for the season, with none nearly as big as Friday's three. "I was pretty nervous," she exclaimed about her three the hard way, but she did not see the shot as the game-winner, saying, "overall we worked as a team."

And the team worked well as a unit, led by Alyssa Peterson who scord 12 points before making an early exit with five fouls in the third quarter. Rebekah Ball added 11 points for the Lions, and Alexis Edmondson tacked on 10, including the only Providence trey.

Working in Mercy's favor was Providence's inability to convert at the line, making just 9-of-24 attempts. Providence also committed an uncharacteristic 28 points, and also lost Christy Verboom to fouls in the fourth quarter.

Mercy saw three of its players foul out, with the last coming in the fourth quarter with 1:33 left, forcing the Warriors to finish the game with just four on the floor.

Providence (13-2, 3-0 Pioneer League) hosts Hurling today at Maywood Middle School in Corning, and makes the trip to Princeton Friday.