BOSTON, Mass. - A huge second quarter by Emmanuel, and 42 turnovers by the 'Grims, proved to be too much to overcome as the New England College women's basketball team fell to the GNAC's top-ranked Saints on Wednesday evening, 72-45. 

After an evenly fought first quarter, the Saints erupted for 33 points in the second; Emmanuel outscored NEC 33-7 in the quarter to build a 48-20 lead going into halftime. The Saints forced 26 turnovers in the half while scoring 33 points off those turnovers. 

For NEC, junior Bailey Burke (New Bedford, Mass.) and senior Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) did much of the heavy lifting on offense in the first half. The duo combined for 15 of the team's 20 points and went 4-of-5 from beyond-the-arc. 

Points didn't come easy for either team in the third quarter as each squad shot below 30 percent. Emmanuel slightly outscored the Pilgrims, 11-9, while junior Camryn Lewis (Taunton, Mass.) connected on the only three-pointer by either side – her first made triple on her first attempt in her career. 

The Pilgrims outscored the Saints in the fourth quarter, 16-13, as McDonald scored five more in the quarter as she ended the game with a team-high 12 points. Junior Nyah Belton (Colton, Calif.) chipped in four points in the fourth while senior Macy Gordon (Boscawen, N.H.) got on the board with a three-pointer. 

Across quarters one, three, and four, the Pilgrims were only outscored by one single point, 39-38, but the Saints' monstrous second quarter netted them the 27-point victory. Emmanuel featured a balanced scoring attack with just two players in double-digits, but seven Saints eclipsed seven points. 

In addition to McDonald's game-high 12 points, Burke had 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while Lewis added eight points and eight boards. Belton ended the game with 8 points – all of which came in the second half.  

The Pilgrims remain on the road for a matchup against Dean College on Saturday, January 31st, as they wrap up the month against the Bulldogs at Pieri Gymnasium in Franklin, Massachusetts. 

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