Huge Second Half Comeback Propels Saints Past Chargers in 49-48 Nailbiter

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel, 49 – Colby-Sawyer, 48

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (11-4, 6-1 GNAC)
Colby-Sawyer College Chargers (3-11, 1-5 GNAC)

Location: New London, N.H. – David L. Coffin Field House

Date: Saturday, January 14, 2023

THE LEAD – Emmanuel College erased a 20-point third quarter deficit to pull out a thrilling 49-48 road win over Colby-Sawyer College on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's basketball action at the David L. Coffin Field House in New, London, N.H.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Trailing 32-12 with 9:00 to play in the third, the Saints comeback began with a 13-0 run capped by a triple from junior forward Allison Wild (Tewksbury, Mass.) to cut the CSC lead to 32-25 with 2:26 to play in the frame.
• Sophomore forward Desiree Robinson (New Haven, Conn.) connected on a layup with four seconds left in the third to make it a 33-29 game heading into the final quarter.
• EC opened the fourth with back-to-back hoops to even the score at 33-33 before the Chargers answered with two hoops to regain a four-point lead at 37-33 with 7:00 left in regulation.
• Courtney Brewster (Castleton, Vt.) opened up the lead to six (40-36) with a free throw with 6:03 before EC junior guard Olivia Matela (Swampscott, Mass.) drained a three to cut the deficit to one at 42-41.
• Robinson was the catalyst down the stretch, evening the score at 44-44 following an old-fashion three-point play with 3:48 left. Robinson then converted a layup with 2:56 on the clock to give the visitors a two-point cushion at 46-44.
• Marissa Holt (Alfred, Maine) tied the score at 48-48 with a trifecta before Robinson drained a free-throw with 2:04 left to give the Saints the 49-48 lead which proved to be the final as neither side scored over the final two minutes of play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Wild led Emmanuel with 14 points off the bench over 25 minutes of action.
• Matela and Robinson both finished in double-figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
• Junior Kiera Eubanks (Portland, Maine) secured a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with seven points.
• Holt scored a game-high 21 points for the hosts
• The Chargers held Emmanuel to a season-low 21.3% shooting percentage.
• The Saints finished with 24 steals marking the fourth time this season they've eclipsed 20+ thefts and the third time in the last four games.

UP NEXT

• The Saints wrap up their four-game road trip on Tuesday, January 17 in a key divisional showdown vs. Saint Joseph's College (ME) with a 5:30 PM tip in Standish, Maine.
• The Chargers are back the same day playing host to Rivier University at 5:30 PM.