Safkan, Nelson Spark Fourth-Quarter Surge as Harford Races Past Southern Maryland, 72–56

BEL AIR, Md. — Nehir Safkan and Caryne Nelson scored 18 points apiece as Harford Community College pulled away late for a 72-56 Maryland JUCO women’s basketball win over the College of Southern Maryland on Saturday at APG Federal Credit Union Arena.

Harford improved to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference, while Southern Maryland fell to 2-6, 1-3.

The Fighting Owls dominated the opening 10 minutes, racing to a 20-6 lead behind balanced scoring from the starting five and 44.4 percent shooting in the first quarter. Southern Maryland answered with a big second period, outscoring Harford 20-9 to trim the deficit to 29-26 at halftime behind the play of guards Amoni Taylor and Cailyn Samuel.

Harford held onto a narrow lead through the third. Safkan’s transition layups and a jumper from Amya Goodsell helped the Owls maintain a 47-43 edge heading to the fourth quarter after the Hawks had closed to within a point several times.

The Owls finally created separation in the final period. Safkan finished in transition to push the margin back to six, Nelson scored twice in the paint, and freshman guard Ayca Kazak drilled a pair of 3-pointers, including a deep right-wing three that made it 63-51 with 4:15 remaining. Nelson added a late three-point play and free throw to extend Harford’s largest lead to 72-56 in the final 20 seconds.

Nelson closed with 18 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, while Safkan matched her with 18 points and added four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Goodsell contributed 11 points, six rebounds and three assists, Sanaiya Edmond posted 10 points and nine boards, and Kazak came off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds on 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc.

Harford shot 39.7 percent from the floor and owned a 48-42 edge on the glass. The Owls outscored the Hawks 38-32 in the paint, 14-4 in fast-break points and 14-10 in second-chance points. Southern Maryland shot 27.8 percent but stayed close thanks to 20 points off Harford turnovers.

Taylor led the Hawks with 15 points, while Raylin Lee scored 14 and Sanaa Morrow added 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Harford now heads west to Ephraim, Utah, for the Snow College Holiday Invitational, where the Owls will face No. 16 Salt Lake Community College on Friday, Dec. 12, before meeting host Snow College on Saturday, Dec. 13.