Saints Women's Basketball Claims 71-36 Win Over Hilbert at Puerto Rico Clasico
BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO – Decisive second and fourth quarters by Emmanuel Women’s Basketball helped lift them to a 71-36 win over the Hilbert Hawks on Tuesday afternoon at the 2023 Puerto Rico Clasico.
BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO – Decisive second and fourth quarters by Emmanuel Women's Basketball helped lift them to a 71-36 win over the Hilbert Hawks on Tuesday afternoon at the 2023 Puerto Rico Clasico.
The Saints outscored the Hawks 15-1 in the second quarter and 21-9 in the fourth, improving to 5-6 this season with the win. Hilbert's loss drops them to 1-9 on the year.
The Saints opened play with a 9-0 run in the first 1:58 of the game and never surrendered the lead on the afternoon. Hilbert closed to within four but a three-point play for Saints junior Paris Atuahene (Phoenix, Ariz.) capped off the first quarter with Emmanuel leading 20-13.
The Saints opened up a double-digit lead early in the second, starting the frame on a 7-0 run. The Hawks lone point of the quarter came on a free throw from junior Belle Oakley (Springville, N.Y.) with 5:26 remaining in the half, but from that point, Emmanuel closed the half with the final eight points, securing a 35-14 halftime lead.
Emmanuel led by more than 20 throughout the rest of the game, holding off any run Hilbert made to get back into the game. The Saints led 50-27 through three quarters before putting the finishing touches on a dominant performance in the fourth.
A 16-3 run over a span of 7:23 in the fourth quarter capped off a strong performance at the Puerto Rico Clasico, as the Saints walked away from their first of two games with a 71-36 victory.
Atuahene led the Saints with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting in 17 minutes. Senior Olivia Matela (Swampscott, Mass.) and first-year Meagan Schuermann (Cooperstown, N.Y.) each chipped in nine points. Seniors Kiera Eubanks (Portland, Maine) and Shakirah Ketant (Easton, Mass.) both finished with eight points.
Hawks sophomore Kelsey Schlagenhauf (Oakfield, N.Y.) finished with game-highs of 15 points and eight rebounds. The second-year forward shot 5-of-9 from the floor in 29 minutes. Junior Alesia Hamm (Buffalo, N.Y.) added eight points and six rebounds in the loss.
The Saints return for their second game of the 2023 Puerto Rico Clasico tomorrow, Dec. 20, at 12:00 p.m. against Case Western Reserve. The Hawks are back on court tomorrow to face Norwich at 10:00 a.m.