SAINTS USE BALANCED ATTACK TO DOWN MUSTANGS

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel Saints had four players score in double figures, as they powered past the visiting Mount Ida College Mustangs, 81-37, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's basketball game played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night.  This was the second-straight GNAC win for the host Saints, who improved to 10-4 on the season and 2-0 in the league.  Mount Ida dropped to 6-8 overall and 0-2 in GNAC play with the loss.

Senior guard Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, Conn.), who was selected this week's GNAC Player of the Week, opened things up with a baseline jumper for the Mustangs, but this would be the visitors' only lead of the night.  Emmanuel quickly scored three consecutive lay-ups, capitalizing on Mount Ida turnovers forced off the Saints' full-court zone press. The Saints held an 8-4 lead after a baseline drive and a lay-up by Liz Daley (Sharon, Mass.) at 16:40.

Fastbreak baskets by both Leni Negri (Arlington, Va.) and Chenae Earle (South Orange, N.J.) brought the spread to 14-6 in favor of the Saints at the twelve-minute mark. Another Negri hoop made it a double-figure lead for the Saints.  Junior guard Bria Tiro (Saugus, Mass.) scored for the Saints and Jenn Rafuse netted one for the Mustangs to set the score at 23-8 in favor of Emmanuel.

Nearing the five-minute mark, senior forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) netted her fourth-straight hoop and the Saints held a 31-9 advantage.  After being held to just three field goals in the opening fifteen minutes of action, sophomore guard Allison O'Connor (Leominster, Mass.) stuck a three-pointer for the visitors and cut the Mustang deficit to 33-14.

O'Dwyer continued to dominate inside and led the Saints to a 43-19 lead at the break.  The senior captain led all scorers with her 14 first-half points off 7 for 11 shooting. Sophomore center Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) added 6 points and 3 assists in the opening frame.

O'Connor and Acosta led the Mustangs with 5 points apiece at the break.  Rafuse hauled in 12 first-half rebounds for Mount Ida.

The Saints carried their momentum into the second half, pushing their lead to thirty points at 55-25 with 14:40 remaining.  Emmanuel got several solid contributions off the bench, including a triple by Tiro at 6:10 to put the Saints up 73-32.

Despite a Mustang offensive spark from Acosta, the Saints were able to hold their double-figure lead throughout and pulled away with the 81-37 win.  The Saints' team total of 81 points was a season-high.  Emmanuel shot 48% (36-75) from the floor for the game and forced just 26.5% (13-49) shooting by the Mustangs.  Emmanuel's tough pressure defense forced a total of 34 Mustang turnovers.

O'Dwyer finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Saints.  Bujnowski, Negri and Tiro rounded out a quartet of double-figure scorers for the Saints, as they netted 10 points apiece in the win.  Tiro, Daley and Jasmine Burwell (Brentwood, N.Y.) each pulled in 7 rebounds, while O'Dwyer and Laura Benvenuto (Wyckoff, N.J.) dished out 4 assists apiece for the Saints.

Acosta led Mount Ida with 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.  O'Connor and Rafuse finished with 8 points each.  Rafuse also collected a game-high 14 rebounds in the effort.

The Saints will play at home again on Thursday night, when they host Anna Maria College in a 7:00 PM start.  The Mustangs will host Albertus Magnus on Thursday at 7:00 PM.