Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole items from a Medford store this month.
A man allegedly stole clothing from T.J. Maxx, located at 2799 Horseblock Road, on February 1 at approximately 2:45 p.m. The clothing was valued at approximately $155.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify a man who allegedly stole from a South Setauket store in November.
A man allegedly stole a television, valued at $149 from Target, located at 265 Pond Path, at approximately 4:55 p.m. on November 30.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Residents across the county are noticing swans straying from their habitats, wandering onto roads, drive-ways and parking lots, often disheveled and disoriented.
Lisa Jaeger, who runs an animal rescue business, has already picked up six swans this year, a number she says is above normal. In fact, Jaeger was relocating a swan that was found on 25A only hours before her phone interview with TBR News Media. In her ten years of running her business, Jaeger said she has never noticed such an influx of displaced, sick or even dead swans.
“It is very bad. One of them we found dead on the beach on Shore Road” Jaeger said. “It’s horrible. It’s just horrible.”
Swans are extremely territorial creatures and after mating, reside in one area for the rest of their lives. They may leave that area if pushed out after fighting with another swan or if they are confused and unable to navigate back. Lead poisoning is the likely cause.
“[Lead poisoning] is very common,” Adrienne Gillepsie, wildlife rehabilitator at Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays. “Every single swan that we admit to this center, and we get a lot, has lead poisoning.”
Jaeger frequently travels to the rescue center to drop off swans, if they have room. The Evelyn Alexander Rescue Center is the only wildlife center in Suffolk County that has a large waterfowl pen. Other centers have smaller pens and are only capable of taking a few waterfowl.
Lead poisoning affects the swans’ central nervous system and can cause the swans to neglect their grooming, becoming dirty and odorous as a result. They can become sluggish and confused or lose control of their legs and wings and become grounded. When this happens, the swan may try to eat dirt or sand, compounding their sickness.
“If they don’t get treated, it is a death sentence and it is very, very slow. They are uncoordinated, they can drown, they get hit by cars…they slowly just go downhill because they don’t have that medicine or treatment,” Gillepsie said.
Gillepsie estimated that when she started 12 years ago, only around half of swans that were brought in had lead poisoning; now, she said it was essentially a guarantee that a bird would show high levels of lead when given a blood test.
Gillespie and her team administer a treatment called chelation therapy, a 5-day treatment that flushes the toxic metals from the swan’s system. They administer dimercaptosuccinic acid to extricate the heavy metals. This treatment is repeated until lead levels are low enough for the swan to be released.
Swans must be returned “exactly where they came from.” They are invasive and aggressive, so relocating them is problematic not only to other swans, but also to the surrounding ecosystem.
The cured swans return to their nest site, ingest the same contaminated vegetation or lead shots. Gillespie said they regularly get “repeat offenders”.
Other birds like hawks, owls, loons, ducks, and canadian geese can also get lead poisoning, but not as frequently as swans.
Lead shot and pellets were outlawed in 1991. The sale of lead fishing sinkers under one-half ounce or less was banned in New York in 2002 as it was the leading cause of death for the common loon.
The Rocky Point girls wrestling team warming up in practice – preparing for the upcoming tournament. Photo by Kristina Garcia
By Kristina Garcia
Rocky Point girls wrestling brought back more than just shiny new armor with them from Albany last week – memories and preparation proved to be even more valuable.
On January 25, Rocky Point girls wrestling took home the Journeymen Girls State Duals Championship Trophy. Photo by Kristina Garcia
And on Monday night, The Lady Eagles faced off in the first ever official Section XI Girls Wrestling Championship hosted at Comsewogue High School, where sophomore Lily Blenk and freshman Julianna Hernandez took first place in their weight class. They will now compete in the first official New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls Wrestling Championship on February 27 in Albany. The finalists also included Ava Capogna and Zoey Hernandez.
“I’m very proud of the entire team this whole season . . . progress in this sport is not always linear and it will include some highs and lows, but the important thing is to keep your head up and keep going on the right path. They all have etched their names into the history books of girls wrestling forever and they should be very proud of their progress as wrestlers, and more importantly the type of people that they are,” said head coach Anthony DeVito.
After their win in Albany, The NYS Journeyman Girls Dual Meet Wrestling Champions gathered Saturday morning to enter yet another week of intensive training for the Monday tournament. “They came together for one cause. The cause is the team,” said head coach Anthony DeVito. “WIT stands for whatever it takes, so whatever it takes for the team and the family.”
Senior captains Bridget Myers and Capogna touched on the importance of both physical and mental preparation heading into such an elite competition. “There were high-energy practices where we couldn’t stop moving, talking, and getting our mindset right, all while making sure that we knew what we had to do to win,” said Myers. “We were doing a lot of talking about our mindset, doing a lot of stuff with the coaches,” said Capogna. “We were working on a lot of technique and making sure it was perfect for when we went to states.”
As the team headed to the mats to compete in their individual duals at states, they brought with them belief. “By the time we were there, they understood that it was their dual meet tournament, they would take someone down and they were looking for points right away,” said coach DeVito.
“We were the loudest team,” said senior Clover Van Der Velden. Rocky Point girls wrestling left their mark in Albany after defeating Phoenix 39-25, Minisink Valley 45-17, and Shenendehowa 38-18; exemplifying discipline, focus, and control over the course of the tournament. Junior captain Angelica Smiech was the first dual of the day, setting the tone for Rocky Point’s championship run. “For a lot of people, including myself, you definitely wrestle more crazy when you’re practicing, but when you get out on the mat you’re so nervous with all the mental challenges,” said Smiech. “I knew I needed to win for our team, so I wrestled for more than me, and now I feel like I can do that again,” she said.
Ranked 17th in the country in her weight class, Julianna Hernandez has made history continuously for this Rocky Point team in just her freshman season. As a seventh grader, Julianna became the first girl to win the league wrestling title in Long Island against boys. A big team goal for this group is for the young ones to build from this experience for the future, and coach DeVito has a great deal of trust they will.
“It brought the team so much closer. We’re all from different schools and don’t always practice together, but when we did, I realized – wow, we are a family. We all put in work to achieve this goal. These are friends I’m going to have forever,” said Van Der Velden. “The support, it was like a family, it was amazing, and when we found out we won everyone was basically crying, it was insane, I will definitely remember that forever,” said Blenk.
Kristina Garcia is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Trevor Green (left) and Casmere Anthony Leon Morrow. Photo by Richard V. Acritelli
By Richard V. Acritelli
Over the last week, two special students from Rocky Point High School achieved impressive athletic milestones.Trevor Green and Casmere Anthony Leon Morrow are both young men who are armed with big smiles and a can-do attitude to gain their goals in the swimming pool and basketball court.These two student-athletes certainly have a bright future after their impressive sporting moments at Rocky Point.
Junior Trevor Green is a two-time Suffolk County champion “B” runner, where he has been All-League, All-County, All-Conference and All-State several times.He is also a two-time New York State Federation runner who placed 9th this year.
In addition to running, he is one of the finest swimmers on Long Island and New York State. On Feb. 8, Green became the county champion in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke.He also established new personal best records in front of a packed crowd and wild cheers.
For his brilliance in the pool, Green was given the Suffolk County Most Outstanding Award for Swimming.Over the next couple of weeks, Green will be training for the New York State swimming championships in Ithaca.Now a junior with several years of swimming experience, Green placed second as a freshman at Ithaca for the backstroke.Green also participates in the Three Village Swim Club, where he holds many swimming records at the Stony Brook University pool.
This past summer, Green traveled to the National Select Camp at Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the Olympic Training Center.Already a verbal commit to the University of Minnesota for swimming, this future engineering student is motivated to compete in the 2028 Olympic trials. Green embodies the true ethos of an athletic warrior. His concentration is established not only through his swimming, but also in his ability to juggle the rigors of athletics and attaining quality grades.A dedicated student-athlete, Green is a kind, considerate and able person who has made the school district proud of his many achievements.Green has a devoted cheering section from his parents and sister at every competition.
Playing in only his third year of varsity basketball, Morrow recently scored his 1,000th point for the Rocky Point Eagles. For the last several years at Rocky Point, Morrow flourished under the direction of his coach and guidance counselor James Jordan, who said, “this was truly an amazing accomplishment that was attained in only three years.He has changed his game to become a better rebounder and has the support of a balanced team around him.Currently in the county, he is ranked in the top five of scoring leaders, and tenth on Long Island.In over 22 seasons, it has been my hope to coach a player of Morrow’s caliber.”
A senior, Morrow is pleased to be preparing for the play-offs with his teammates. Morrow believes his team is usually the “underdog” during many of his games and over the last couple of weeks they have aggressively defeated opposing teams.
During a home game against Amityville, Morrow scored 28 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.An aggressive ball player who likes going to the net to score points, he would like to improve his shooting skills in college.Already with 1,028 points, Morrow wore a big smile on his face as he described the outstanding landmark of reaching the thousand-point mark, and he was happy that it was scored during a home game.
Athletic Director Jonathan Rufa is impressed with the accomplishments of these students and observed, “It feels like just yesterday that Morrow arrived at our school, presenting a new face of potential for this team. Morrow is a talented player that has pushed himself to become a 1,000-point scorer.This basketball triumph demonstrates an immense amount of commitment to this difficult game.”
Exercise helps build long-term physical and mental health, but regular exercise is often a challenge. Even with all the fitness-related apps to prompt us, modern society has an equal number of tech demotivators. It’s just too easy to let the next episode of our favorite series autoplay or to answer those last few emails.
Even if we want to exercise, we “don’t have time.”
I have good news. There is an easy way to get tremendous benefit in very little time. You don’t need expensive equipment, and you don’t have to join a gym. You can even sharpen your wits with your feet.
Esther Tuttle was profiled in a New York Times’ Science Times article a few years ago, when she was 99. Esther was sharp as a tack and was independently mobile, with no mobility aids. She remained active by walking in the morning for 30 minutes and then walking again in the afternoon.
Of course, this story is only anecdotal; however, evidence-based medicine supports her claim that walking is a simple way to get exercise that shows incredible benefits. One mile of walking a day will help keep the doctor away. For the step-counters among you, that’s about 2,000 steps a day for an adult with an average stride length.
Does walking improve mental acuity?
Walking has a dramatic effect, preserving brain function and even growing certain areas of the brain (1). Study participants who walked between six and nine miles a week, or just one mile a day, reduced the risk of cognitive impairment over 13 years and actually increased the amount of gray matter tissue in the brain over nine years.
Participants who had an increase in brain tissue volume also experienced a substantially reduced risk of developing cognitive impairment. Interestingly, the parts of the brain that grew included the hippocampus, involved with memory, and the frontal cortex, involved with short-term memory and executive decision making. There were 299 participants with a mean age of 78. All were dementia-free at the trial’s start.
In another study, moderate exercise reduced the risk of mild cognitive impairment with exercise begun in mid-to-late life (2).
If you’re pressed for time or building your stamina, you can split a mile into two half-mile increments. How long does it take you to walk a half-mile?
Does walking affect one’s mood?
Researchers performed a meta-analysis of studies related to the relationship between exercise and depression. They found that adults who walked briskly for about 75 minutes per week cut their risk of depression by 18 percent (3).
If you ratchet up your exercise to running, a study showed that mood also improves, reducing anger (4). The act of running increases your levels of serotonin, a hormone that, when low, can make people agitated or angry.
How do I build better habits?
A common challenge I hear is that working from home reduces much of the opportunity to walk. There’s no walking down the hall to a meeting or to get lunch or even from the car or train to the office. Instead, everything is only a few steps away. Our work environment is working against us.
If you need a little help getting motivated, here is a terrific strategy to get you started: set an alarm for specific points throughout your day and use that as a prompt to get up and walk, even if it’s for only 15 minutes. The miles will add up quickly.
A client of my wife’s schedules meetings for no more than 50 minutes, so she can walk a “lap” around her house’s interior between meetings or even do some jumping jacks. She also looks for opportunities to have an old-fashioned phone call, rather than a video call, so she can walk up and down the hallway while she’s meeting. Of course, this is one person, but it might prompt some ideas that will work for you.
Walking has other benefits as well. Weight-bearing exercise helps prevent osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Sadly, if you don’t use them, bones weaken and break. Walking is a weight-bearing exercise that helps strengthen your joints, bones and muscles.
Remember to use your feet to keep your mind sharp and yourself even-tempered. Activities like walking will help you keep a positive attitude, preserve your bones and help increase the plasticity of your brain.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.
Smartphones are an attractive nuisance not just during family time, when parents might otherwise struggle to see anything other than the top of the heads of their children, but also during school.
Lauren Hale. Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Medicine
In a recent research letter published in JAMA Pediatrics, scientists led by Lauren Hale, Professor in the Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine at Stony Brook University, found in a study of 117 students from the ages of 13 to 18 that smartphone use during school hours typically consumed an average of about 1.5 hours. That’s about 23 percent of a typical school day.
“School time should be a time for being present,” said Hale. It should involve interacting with peers and learning from teachers. “When a quarter of your day is spent with your finger on the phone” students are missing opportunities for academic and social growth.
The study, which was funded by the Della Pietra Family Foundation, comes as Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has unveiled a plan to restrict cell phone use during the day for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The governor’s plan allocates $13.5 million for pouches, cubbies and other storage devices and comes as other states and countries seek to limit the kinds of distractions that diminish learning and that prevent face-to-face social interactions.
The JAMA study “really does underscore the need to help children reduce their screen time, both at school and at home,” said Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development.
At this moment, “we are seeing a crisis in childhood that is highly correlated with the introduction of the smartphone and social media platforms,” Perry added.
In the JAMA Pediatrics study, the researchers found that a quarter of the participants spent more than two hours on their phone during school.
The top five most used apps or categories, other than internet browsing, were messaging, Instagram, video streaming, audio and email.
The study may underestimate the amount of time typical students spend on their phones, in part because the participants in the research knew that their phone use was being tracked.
Study design
The students in the study, who were divided almost equally between boys and girls and who came from a representative sampling of different backgrounds, completed a 15-minute smartphone-based survey and installed RealityMeter to measure their smartphone use.
The researchers examined data from these students, whose phones sent signals throughout the day about the time they are using the phone.
The average number of hours these students were on their phones during the day was 5.59, which excludes other electronic devices such as video games, desktop computers or laptops.
To be sure, the survey didn’t analyze the times during the day that these students were on their phones. Some of these participants, for example, could have used their smartphones during their lunch or free periods rather than during calculus classes or lectures about American History, French or any other subject.
“We didn’t have the granularity of each student’s schedule to know” when the phone usage was the highest, Hale said.
Still, using the phone instead of interacting directly with students in the room, at a lunch table, or in a hallway is a “missed opportunity for eye-to-eye contact in real life,” said Hale.
In the study, about 22 percent of the participants indicated that their parents restricted their phone use when they are at home.
The data for this group during school tracks, however, closely with the students who said they didn’t have any such similar phone restrictions at home. The study also compared phone usage for students whose parents attended college with those who didn’t attend or finish college.
The children of college graduates used the phone about 30 minutes less per school day.
Combination of factors
Several factors may have contributed to any potential increase in the use of smartphones in school.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdown and remote learning, students relied on technology to log in to their classrooms. Adolescents who couldn’t interact with each other in person also spent considerable time texting and interacting with each other on social media.
Additionally, various apps have enhanced their platforms to encourage users to stay on them for longer periods of time.
“The algorithms know that I like Shih Tzus, so I keep getting reels for tiny white dogs doing tricks,” said Hale. “If they put up cats, I wouldn’t watch.”
The same is true for adolescents, who see sports clips or other content regularly that compels them to stay online and that may interfere with their ability to learn in class or to socialize with people around them.
These apps and the devices adolescents use could provide information about usage patterns.
“I would love to see social media platforms share more information,” said Hale.
Perry added that parents act as important role models for their children when it comes to screen time. “What you’re modeling is going to be replicated,” she said. “Things that adults do without thinking, their children are copying.”
Next steps
Hale indicated that the research team has just finished collecting a second wave of data on the same participants. The scientists will be following up to see screen use patterns as well as any observed changes in mental health and physical well being.
The recent work published in JAMA Pediatrics is a “descriptive baseline” of smartphone usage in school, said Hale. She suggested that researchers need to conduct further research to understand the impact of phone usage patterns on education. “We need replication in science” to uncover more details over a larger population for smartphone use.
Like Gov. Hochul and others who have focused on this issue, Hale believes these personal electronics may hinder the learning process.
“I’m concerned about kids losing precious school hours to distracting devices,” Hale said. When students go to school, they should “be ready for learning and social time. That’s what’s going to make a difference in their education.”
Suffolk County Police arrested a man on Feb. 15 for allegedly driving while intoxicated with his 5-month-old son in the vehicle following a motor vehicle crash on the Long Island Expressway in Melville.
Angel Abadcando was driving a 2009 Honda Civic sedan eastbound on the Long Island Expressway east of exit 49 when he stopped abruptly and was rear ended by another vehicle at approximately 2:15 a.m. Police officers at the scene determined Abadcando exhibited signs of intoxication and was placed into custody. There were no injuries reported.
Abadcando, 44, of 364 South Ocean Avenue, Patchogue, was charged with two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a Child Passenger 15 Years or Younger (Leandra’s Law) and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Abadcando is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on February 16. The Honda was impounded for a safety check. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.
Smithtown Resident Susan Buroker, who helped to spearhead the Task Force together with Support from Madlyn Makboulian; Director at Smithtown Horizons, addresses the Town Board after the unanimous decision to approve the formation of the Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force. Photo courtesy of Town of Smithtown
The Town of Smithtown Town Board unanimously approved the establishment of its Opioid and Addiction Task Force, a community-driven initiative aimed at combating the opioid epidemic and supporting individuals and families affected by substance use disorders. The resolution to form the task force was approved during the February 4th Town Board meeting, marking a significant step forward in addressing this ongoing crisis through compassion, resources, and education.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the opioid crisis, mental health struggles, and substance abuse that impact our community. Furthermore, we must also hold those liable for this crisis accountable. The stigma surrounding addiction often creates a sense of shame and judgment that prevents individuals from seeking the help they desperately need. We all know someone—a friend, a family member, coworker, or a neighbor—who has been affected by this crisis. It is our responsibility to foster a culture of compassion, understanding, and support. Everyone deserves a chance at living a healthy, rewarding life, and together, we can break down barriers to recovery and build a stronger, healthier community,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
The task force was formed in response to the growing need for a unified approach to addiction and mental health challenges within the community. With support from local Senator Mario Mattera, Horizons Counseling and Education Center, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and key community stakeholders, such as Susan Buroker who presented the concept alongside Madlyn Makboulian, the Director of Horizons, the initiative will focus on prevention, education, resource accessibility, and reducing the stigma surrounding addiction. The Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force will be committed to addressing the substance use crisis through a proactive, community-driven approach.
“After meeting Susan Buroker and her team in my office, I knew Supervisor Wehrheim and the Town Board would take immediate action to help protect Smithtown residents. Along with his colleagues, Supervisor Wehrheim quickly put the issue on their agenda to help raise awareness and save lives. This, along with their decision to ban legal cannabis dispensaries, shows their commitment to protecting our residents from drug abuse. That is greatly appreciated and I look forward to continuing to work with all involved to increase the conversation around this somewhat whispered topic,” said NY State Senator Mario Mattera.
“The formation of the new Smithtown anti-drug and opiate task force represents a critical step in our fight against substance abuse. By bringing together law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, we are committed to preventing addiction, providing support for those in recovery, and holding those who fuel this crisis accountable. Together, we will work toward a safer, healthier future for our community,” stated Madlyn Makboulian, ADV-CASAC, CPP, Director of Drug and Alcohol Counseling Services, Horizons Counseling and Education Center.
The town board will appoint a dedicated team of local leaders, first responders, hospital professionals, and key stakeholders to lead efforts in combating opioid addiction and supporting individuals in recovery in the coming months. A core mission of the task force will be to educate and inform the community by providing individuals and families with essential resources on prevention strategies, treatment options, and the realities of substance use. Additionally, the task force seeks to reduce stigma by fostering open discussions and creating a supportive environment that challenges misconceptions about addiction and mental health.
“Together as a community we created this task force because addiction isn’t just an individual struggle- it affects us all. Through awareness, support, and conversation we can create real change together,” said Susan Buroker, Community Advocate and Founding Member of the Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force
By strengthening community connections, the task force will work collaboratively with local organizations, healthcare providers, schools, first responders and law enforcement to create a united front against substance use disorders. It will also focus on raising awareness of available resources, ensuring residents have access to treatment, prevention measures and recovery services through targeted outreach and community engagement.
The Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force plans to host a Community Event in partnership with Horizons Counseling and Education Center, slated for May 17, 2025. The first task force event will provide critical resources, and services including Narcan Training, a Prescription Medication Disposal (Give-Back Initiative) and guest speakers. Additionally resources from the community such as Phoenix House, Thrive, Long Island Center for Recovery, Diagnostic, Assessment, and Stabilization Services, New Horizons, AA/NA, St. Catherine’s Hospital, Sun River Detox, and LICR will be invited to participate with interactive booths providing information and resources to attendees. This event is expected to serve as a launchpad for ongoing efforts to connect, support, and empower the Smithtown community in its fight against opioid addiction and substance use disorders.
Background:
The Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force was originally initiated by Susan Buroker, whose experience in the addiction recovery community, combined with listening to the community’s outcry, led to the realization that Smithtown needed a proactive, united approach. Buroker collaborated with NY State Senator Mario Mattera, Madlyn Makboulian (Smithtown Horizons), Barbara Posillico (Wellness Center), Sharon Richmond (Huntington Opioid and Addiction Task Force), Glen Williams, Linda Cherney, Ron Rotham, and Dave Lewis (Smithtown Rotary) before presenting the proposal to Supervisor Ed Wehrheim. Their collective efforts resulted in the town’s official commitment to establishing this critical task force.
About Horizons Horizons Counseling and Education Center:
Horizons is an OASAS-licensed not-for-profit agency funded to provide adolescent and adult treatment, prevention and education services for drug and alcohol related problems. Services include assessments, counseling groups, individual sessions, and an array of specialized treatment and prevention programming. Additionally, Horizons offers services for parents, significant others, and other family members of individuals struggling with addiction. In addition to the adult services provided, Horizons specializes in treatment, education and prevention services to address the specific needs of the adolescents and young adults within the community and surrounding area.
If you are an adult, youth or parent of a youth who is struggling, please call Horizons to explore the next steps to recovery during challenging times at 631-360-7578 or email: [email protected]
Stony Brook women’s basketball battled with Hampton, ultimately falling 59-57, on Feb. 14 at Stony Brook Arena. Shamarla King, Zaida Gonzalez and Breauna Ware combined to score 46 of the Seawolves’ 57 total points.
The Seawolves (11-12, 6-6) had three players score in double figures, led by King, who had 19 points and six rebounds. Gonzalez tacked on a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Ware chipped in with 12 points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
The Seawolves out-rebounded the Pirates 41-37, paced by Gonzalez’s 10 boards. Stony Brook’s defense held Hampton to only 40 percent shooting from the field, including 27.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Pirates did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with nine offensive rebounds and managed eight second chance points while Stony Brook cleared 32 defensive rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After jumping out to a 7-6 advantage, Stony Brook went on a 5-0 run with 6:27 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Gonzalez, to increase its lead to 12-6. The Seawolves then lost some of that lead but still entered the quarter break with an 18-13 advantage. Stony Brook relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four treys with a pair from Gonzalez and King.
The Seawolves could not maintain their lead in the second quarter, only shooting 2-11 from the field as the Pirates entered halftime on top, 26-25.
Stony Brook’s deficit continued to grow after halftime as Hampton continued to outscore the Seawolves. Lauren Filien, Dallysshya Moreno, and Elizabeth Field helped in the offensive output while the squad dominated on the boards with 13 rebounds.
Stony Brook narrowed its deficit in the fourth quarter, as Ware and King both scored seven points. The Seawolves trailed by only four heading into the final frame and got within one with 25 seconds left to play.
Up next, the team has a quick turnaround in traveling to Maryland to take on Towson on Feb. 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Seawolves and Tigers sixth meeting all-time. Coverage is available on FloCollege.
Prev
