SAINTS TAKE CHAMPIONSHIP AT 29TH ANNUAL EC INVITATIONAL

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 72-60, in the Championship Game of the 29th Annual Emmanuel College Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Emmanuel's Jean Yawkey Center.  The 19th ranked Saints opened the season with back-to-back wins to take the tournament and stand at 2-0 on the young season.  RPI falls to 1-1 with the tournament split.

Sunday's game was hotly contested in the early-going, before Emmanuel pulled away in the second half.  Senior forward Sarah Wetmore (Sudbury, Mass.) drained a three-pointer to give RPI an early 8-6 lead with four minutes played in the half.  Senior forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) then responded by converting an old-fashioned three-point play at the opposite end to put EC out in front, 9-8.

Two big hoops in the paint by sophomore forward Vanessa Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.) gave Emmanuel a 16-10 lead and forced an RPI timeout with 11:40 to go in the half.  An Engineer jumper by Michelle Reid (Derry, N.H.) set the score at 20-14, in favor of the Saints at the ten-minute mark.

A post move by junior forward Jasmine Burwell (Brentwood, N.J.) put the hosts out in front 23-14 and forced another RPI timeout at 9:06.  A hoop down low and a pair of free throws by sophomore Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) gave Emmanuel a double-figure lead at 31-20 with 6:22 on the clock.  

The Engineers then turned up the heat in their full-court pressure and forced consecutive Emmanuel turnovers, as Jen Rock (Byfield, Mass.) scored on the break for RPI and the visitors trailed, 35-24 with just under four minutes remaining in the half.  O'Dwyer pulled in her third offensive rebound of the half and netted a jumper in the paint as Emmanuel went up, 39-27.

Rock sunk a free throw and Bujnowski scored in the post, before the two squads headed into the locker room at halftime with Emmanuel holding a 43-30 lead.  O'Dwyer led all scorers at the break with 15 points on 6 for 9 shooting, while also grabbing 6 boards to lead the way for the Saints.  Rock led the Engineers with 10 points and 5 rebounds at halftime.

Bujnowski opened the second half with a hoop down low and Emmanuel senior Laura Benvenuto (Wyckoff, N.J.) pulled up on the break to extend the Saints' lead to 17 points at 49-32.  The two hoops were part of a 15-4 run that kicked off the second half for Emmanuel and the hosts led, 58-34 with eleven minutes remaining.  A free throw by Rock and a bucket by Courtney Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.) ended the drought for the Engineers, who trailed 58-37 at the ten-minute mark.

The Saints would hold on to their solid double-figure lead for the remainder of the contest, despite a late run by the Engineers.  Wetmore connected on a three-point play to cut the RPI deficit to twelve at 72-60 with two minutes to go.  However, Emmanuel's pressure defense was too much for the Engineers and the Saints held RPI scoreless for the final two minutes of the game and pulled out the 72-60 win.

O'Dwyer led Emmanuel with 17 points on 7 for 11 shooting, while also hauling in 8 boards.  Bujnowski recorded her second consecutive double-double of the year with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.  Benvenuto added 8 points and 8 rebounds for the Saints.  O'Dwyer and Benvenuto were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Saints, while Bujnowski was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Wetmore led RPI with 17 points, including knocking down 10 of 11 from the line.  Rock netted 13 points and grabbed 8 boards in the effort for the Engineers.  Both Wetmore and Rock received All-Tournament Team honors for RPI.

Emmanuel will return to action on Tuesday night, November 20th, when the Saints host the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University in a 7:00 PM start.  RPI also plays on Tuesday, as the Engineers host The Sage Colleges at 6:00 PM.

29th Annual EC Invitational All-Tournament Team
Jennifer Bujnowski - Emmanuel College (Most Valuable Player)
Fiona O'Dwyer - Emmanuel College
Laura Benvenuto - Emmanuel College
Jen Rock - RPI
Sarah Wetmore - RPI
Emily Savino – Western New England University