Box Score ALBANY – The College of Saint Rose survived nearly an eight minute drought throughout the second half to hold on for a 51-49 victory over Saint Michael's College in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament this evening at the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium. In the process, the Golden Knights concluded an impressive 2011-12 home slate with a 14-1 record.

The seventh-seeded Golden Knights (18-9) will now visit second-seed and 20th-ranked Southern Connecticut State University (22-4) for a quarterfinal encounter on Sunday in New Haven. Tip-off has been set for 1:00 pm. The Owls were one of the top-six teams in the league to earn a first round bye.

Saint Rose shot just 29.0 percent (9-for-31) from the floor throughout the final 20 minutes and was held to just three field goals over the final 10:46. The Purple Knights (12-15) converted only nine baskets themselves in the second half and also went scoreless for almost five minutes.

Senior first-team All-Conference guard Ashley Rath led the Golden Knights with 16 points, 12 in the first half, and also hauled in five rebounds. Senior forward Alison McGrath nearly contributed a “double-double” behind 10 points and eight caroms.

Junior guard Megan Olsen pitched in 15 points, on 5-of-7 shooting, in 29 minutes of reserve duty for Saint Michael's. Meanwhile, junior forward Nicole Adach added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Saint Rose broke open a four-point game at halftime by scoring seven of the first nine points of the second period to take its largest lead of the night, 38-29, with 15:59 left. McGrath opened things with a jumper, senior forward Ali Johnson finished off a put-back and Shajuyigbe capped it with a conventional 3-point play.

It was still a seven-point game, 45-38, after freshman guard Gabie Polce buried a deep ball from the right wing with 10:46 to go. It was at that point the Golden Knights began to struggle to find their offensive rhythm. Saint Rose misfired on its next 10 shots that allowed the Purple Knights to claw their way back.

Adach put the finishing touches on an 8-0 run that put Saint Michael's up 46-45 at the 3:59 mark. However, McGrath broke the ice with a rebound and score off her own miss and the Golden Knights never trailed again. Senior guard Ola Shajuyigbe added a jumper and Rath knocked one down off the dribble to put Saint Rose back in control 51-46 with 1:09 on the clock.

Saint Michael's made one last push thanks to Olsen, who buried a trey on the next trip to make it a one possession affair. The Purple Knights got the stop they needed at the other end, but Adach's jumper from the left wing as time expired was off the mark.

The Golden Knights are now 12-9 all-time in the NE-10 Tournament throughout their 12-year tenure in the league. Saint Rose has won its opening game all but twice (2008 & 2010) during that stretch.