HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's basketball team, playing in their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game in school history, prevailed 62-60 over visiting Anna Maria College on Saturday afternoon at the Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire in action.

THE BASICS
Score:                    Anna Maria 60, New England College 62
Records:               Pilgrims 5-4, 1-0 GNAC | AMCATS 2-5, 0-1 GNAC

TURNING POINTS

• A series of three-pointers by the AMCATS early in the second quarter saw the hosts go down by as much as 14 with 6:47 to go in the half before a 9-0 NEC run capped off with a three-point play from freshman guard Maizie Barker (Nashua, N.H.) pulled the 'Grims to within five going into the break, trailing 29-24.
• In the third quarter, a reinvigorate NEC full-court defense saw them swarm Anna Maria, powering an 11-2 rally by the 'Grims, a run that saw them take the lead for the first time on the day off back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore guard Makiah Scott (Washington, D.C.) with 2:32 to go in the quarter. A putback layup from NEC sophomore guard Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) just before time expired gave the Pilgrims a 48-42 lead going into the final quarter.
• After a three-pointer from Anna Maria junior forward Marinique Reddin (Tampa, Fla.) tied the game at 57-57 with 1:50 to go in the game, NEC would immediately answer with what seemed to be a dagger three from senior guard Alissia Corona (Wylie, Tex.) to take the lead back with 1:33 remaining. But the AMCATS tied it right back off a three-pointer by senior guard Gina Parmenter (Oxford, Mass.) with 1:05 left. With less than ten seconds to go and the still tied at 60-60, Anna Maria had the chance to take the lead for the first time since late in the third quarter. But the 'Grims defense held tough and forced a miss and secured the defensive rebound, calling time out with seven seconds to go.  
• With the game on the line and time winding down, NEC turned to senior guard Lara Matias (Long Beach, Calif.), who took the ball and drove to the paint, drawing the foul with 3.5 remaining on the clock. The senior calmly buried both free throws, giving NEC the 62-60 lead and the win as a last second three by Parmenter was off the mark.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Scott led the 'Grims with 13 points and three rebounds, shooting two-of-five from behind the arc.
• Anna Maria freshman guard Arianna Gonzalez (Auburn, Mass.) led all scorers with a career-high 23 points on the day including five three-points.
• NEC senior guard Juliana Hernandez (McFarland, Calif.) pulled down a game-high twelve rebounds to go along with six points.
• Reddin fell one rebound short of a double-double for the visitors with 19 points and nine boards to go along with four assists and three steals.
• Matias finished with ten points and six rebounds after making arguably the two biggest free throws of her career.
• The Pilgrims held a decisive 59-41 advantage on rebounding, scoring 15 points off second chances.

   
UP NEXT

• Up next for NEC, the team travels to Vermont State University Johnson on Tuesday for a 5:00 p.m. non-conference game.
• Anna Maria plays their next game at MCLA on Monday at 6:00 p.m.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.