SAINTS SILENCE ANCHORWOMEN, 60-35

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) tallied a game-high 22 points to lead the Emmanuel College Women's Basketball Team to a 60-35 victory over Rhode Island College in non-conference action played at The Murray Center on Thursday night.

In a rematch of last year's 2nd Round matchup of the 2012 NCAA Div. III Tournament, in which the Saints knocked off the Anchorwomen, 57-52, Emmanuel improved to 5-0 on the season after cruising past RIC, which now drops to 3-2 with the loss.

After the two teams went back-and-forth throughout the first half, freshman guard Danielle LeBlanc (Warwick, R.I.) buried a pair of free throws with 7:39 on the clock to tie the game at 17. However, Emmanuel bounced back with a 12-1 run to close out the frame en route to a 29-18 halftime lead. The momentum soon carried into the second half for the Saints, as they outscored the hosts, 31-17, through the final 20 minutes to seal the victory.

Led by O'Dwyer, the Saints shot a cool 48 percent (22-for-46) from the floor and 70 percent (14-for-20) from the free throw line, while RIC shot just 28 percent (14-for-50) from the field and 50 percent (7-for-14) from the charity stripe. Emmanuel also went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, while the Anchorwomen failed to convert on any of their three-point attempts (0-for-6).

Sophomore forward Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) corralled a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with six points, as Emmanuel dominated the glass to the tune of 43 rebounds, while RIC mustered just 27 rebounds on the night.

Senior guard Laura Benvenuto (Wyckoff, NJ) handed out a career-high 8 assists in the win for the Saints, who dished out 17 dimes as a team. Sophomore forward Vanessa Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.) added eight points and three rebounds off the bench, while junior forward Liz Daley (Sharon, Mass.) chipped in with five points and three boards.

Junior forward Cara Paladino (Arlington, Mass.) paced the Anchorwomen with five points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists, while senior forward Alexia Vega (North Providence, R.I.) finished with seven points and three rebounds. Freshman forward Vandell Andrade (Providence, R.I.) also chipped in with six points and four boards for Rhode Island College off the bench.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will open Little East Conference play at home against Plymouth State on Saturday at 1:00 PM.  Emmanuel will host Middlebury College in a non-conference game on Saturday beginning at 3:00 PM.

*Courtesy of Rhode Island College Sports Information