Saints Post 87-44 GNAC Win Over JWU in Women's Hoops Action

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A strong defensive first half powered Emmanuel College past host Johnson & Wales University, 87-44, Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference women’s basketball action at the Wildcat Center. The Saints held the Wildcats to single digits in the first two quarters of play, cruising to the one-sided conference road win.

Saints Post 87-44 GNAC Win Over JWU in Women's Hoops Action
Video Box Score

Team Stats

February 4, 2023

THE BASICS 
 Score: 
Emmanuel College, 87 – Johnson & Wales Univ., 44

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (16-5, 11-2 GNAC)
Johnson & Wales Univ. Wildcats (8-13, 5-9 GNAC)

Location: Providence, R.I. – Wildcat Center

Date: Saturday, February 4, 2023

THE LEAD – A strong defensive first half powered Emmanuel College past host Johnson & Wales University, 87-44, Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's basketball action at the Wildcat Center. The Saints held the Wildcats to single digits in the first two quarters of play, cruising to the one-sided conference road win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • EC opened the day on a 10-2 surge fueled by a pair of threes by junior Olivia Matela (Swampscott, Mass.) and two buckets in the post from junior Shakirah Ketant (Easton, Mass.) to take control early on.
  • JWU cut the deficit to five at 12-7 before EC closed the quarter with a 10-0 run to carry a 22-7 advantage into the second stanza. Emmanuel also owned an early 20-10 rebounding edge with junior Allison Wild (Tewksbury, Mass.) securing seven in the first quarter of play.
  • The Saints did it again to end the first half, closing the second quarter on another 10-0 run as they carried a comfortable 44-13 lead into the break, holding JWU to only four field goals through two quarters.
  • In the third quarter, the Wildcats scored more than they did in the first half with a 15-point period but Emmanuel also enjoyed their largest quarter on the day with 29 points to give the visitors a 73-28 cushion through three.
  • JWU opened the final frame with five quick points including a three by Janelle Martin (Springfield, Mass.) and went on to outscore the Saints in the period 16-14 but Emmanuel cruised to the 87-44 GNAC win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • The Saints finished the day with a season-high 70 rebound afternoon, owning a +44 margin in the category in the win.
  • The 70-rebound outing marks just the 15th time this season an NCAA Division III women's program has pulled down 70 or more boards in a game and the first by a team in the GNAC this year.
  • Matela finished the day with 16 points, going 4-for-7 from long range in the win.
  • Sophomore Yannie Chan (Hong Kong, China) shared the game-high in points with Matela with 16 of her own to go along with a game-high seven assists.
  • Peyton Oliver (Ramsey, N.J.) paced JWU with 15 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots while Sarah Wisniewski (Naugatuck, Conn.) added 11 points.
  • Every player on Emmanuel's roster scored a field goal in the win.
  • EC has now won five straight and 11 of 12.

UP NEXT

  • The Saints return to Boston on Wednesday, February 8 for a GNAC showdown against the University of Saint Joseph (CT) at 5:30 PM.
  • JWU is back the same day, traveling to Chicopee, Mass. for a 6:00 PM GNAC affair at Elms College.