HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's basketball team won 61-53 over visiting Colby-Sawyer College on Thursday evening at the Bridges Gymnasium in Henniker, New Hampshire in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.
THE BASICS
Score: Colby-Sawyer 61, New England College 53
Records: Pilgrims 8-8, 3-3 GNAC | Chargers 4-11, 1-4 GNAC
TURNING POINTS
- After giving up the opening basket, the 'Grims used a smothering full-court defense to go on a 9-0 run to open the game, a stretch capped off with a three-pointer from NEC junior guard Amya Moss (Norfolk, Va.). The Chargers chipped away at the hosts' lead for much of the first quarter, using cross-court passes and three-point baskets to stay in it. A layup from NEC senior guard Sierra Gamble (Houston, Tex.) with 16 seconds left had the Pilgrims up 24-17 going into the second quarter.
- Colby-Sawyer opened the second quarter with an 8-2 run to pull to within one, capped off with a three-point play from junior guard Marissa Holt (Alfred, Maine) with 6:25 remaining in the first half. The teams went into halftime with NEC clinging to a 36-30 lead.
- The third quarter was a defensive struggle that briefly saw the Chargers take the lead for the first time since the opening seconds of the game. It finished with NEC senior center Kathleen Rodriguez (McFarland, Calif.) hitting a free throw to tie the game up at 40-40 going into the final quarter.
- In the final quarter, the Pilgrims found themselves in a battle, clinging to a narrow lead for nearly the entire stanza. Up by four with less than a minute left, Moss drew a foul and went to the line. The junior calmly buried both shots, giving her team a 57-51 lead with 54 seconds remaining and forcing Colby-Sawyer to call timeout. The 'Grims made the stop on the following possession, and the Chargers were forced to foul, ultimately leaving NEC with the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Moss finished with a team-high 19 points with four steals, four rebounds and a block in an all-around effort to lead the Pilgrims, making 10-of-11 shots from the line including two to ice it with 8.6 seconds left in the game.
- Holt led Colby-Sawyer with 16 points to go along with five rebounds and two blocks.
- NEC sophomore guard Makiah Scott (Washington, D.C.) made her first five shots of the game for the Pilgrims, ultimately finishing with 13 points on six-of-seven shooting. Scott's three-pointer with 7:05 to go gave NEC a 47-44 lead at a critical moment in the game.
- Colby-Sawyer first-year forward Catherine Chick (Glen, N.H.) finished with nine points and rebounds rebounds for the Chargers.
- Rodriguez pulled down a game-high eleven rebounds with ten points and two steals.
- The game was a makeup of a contest originally scheduled for Tuesday evening but postponed due to inclement weather.
UP NEXT
- Up next for NEC, the team travels to Wesleyan University on Monday to face the Cardinals in a 5:00 p.m. game.
- Colby-Sawyer is back in action on Saturday when they travel to Johnson & Wales for a 1:00 p.m. contest.
For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter,
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