WOMEN’S HOOP FALLS TO ECSU, 76-63

BOSTON, Mass. – Five players scored in double-figures to lead Eastern Connecticut State University over Emmanuel College, 76-63, in non-conference women's basketball action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night.  The Warriors have now taken two of the past three meetings with the Saints.  ECSU stays perfect at 3-0 on the season with the win, while Emmanuel drops to 1-2 with the loss.

The Saints held Eastern scoreless for the opening two minutes of play, but Jill Ritrosky (Pittsfield, Mass.) broke the silence for the Warriors with a three-ball from the top of the key.  Emmanuel's junior guard Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) drained a pair of early free throws and connected on an and-one to give the Saints a 7-3 edge at the 15-minute mark.

The EC lead was short-lived as sophomore guard Joryn Nappi (Southington, Conn.) scored on consecutive possessions and Eastern narrowly pulled out in front, 8-7.  Ryan Maynard (Bowie, Md.) and Jen Chalk (Horseheads, N.Y.) scored twice in transition for the Saints and Emmanuel pulled out to a 13-9 lead.  A hoop by Julia DePoi (Brookfield, Conn.) capped a 6-0 ECSU run and put the Warriors back out in front, 15-13 at the 10-minute mark.

The lead would switch hands 10 times over the opening 15 minutes of action.  However, following an Emmanuel free throw by Chalk to tie the game at 22-all, the Warriors scored 14 unanswered points to finish off the half with the 36-22 lead at the break.  The Saints were held scoreless for the final 5:02 of the half, while Eastern drained a pair of trifectas, four free throws and scored twice in transition down the stretch.

The Warriors took advantage of 6-10 shooting from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes, with DePoi and Kristina Forsman (Newington, Conn.) each dialing in from downtown twice. DePoi and Ritrosky led all scorers at the break with 9 points apiece.

Taking advantage of a couple quick hoops from Higgins and a runner in the lane by rookie guard Karlee Alves (Ellington, Conn.), the Saints were able to cut their deficit into single digits at 41-32, just five minutes into the second half.  Higgins found Maynard with a one-touch pass on the break and the rookie forward calmly dropped the baseline jumper to make it a five-point game with the Saints down, 43-38 and twelve and a half minutes remaining.

The Warriors held onto their lead through the six-minute, when DePoit buried another baseline jumper and Forsman drained one from behind the arc to set the score at 57-50 with 5:25 left to play.  A 5-2 Eastern run put the visitors back up by 10 with 3:14 showing on the clock.

A pair of Emmanuel lay-ups by Alves sandwiched a three-pointer by DePoi at the opposite end as the shotclock expired and Eastern led 65-56 with 2:27 to go.  Higgins then connected on a triple to cut Emmanuel's deficit to 67-60 with 1:20 remaining.  This was the closest the Saints would get, however, as the Warriors would make good on their free throws down the stretch and pull out the 76-63 win.

DePoi, Forsman and Ritrosky all scored 15 points to lead the way for Eastern. Nappi hit for 14 points, including knocking down seven from the free throw line. Erin Brooks (Billerica, Mass.) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Warriors with her 11 points and team-high 9 boards.  As a team, Eastern shot 8-19 (42%) from three-point range and 26-28 (68.4%) from the line.

Higgins led the Saints with her game-high 20 points, while dishing out a game-hjgh eight assists and grabbing six rebounds.  Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.  Alves and Maynard notched their first collegiate double-figure games, each scoring 10 points off of 4-7 shooting.

Both teams return to the court this Thursday night, November 20th.  The Saints travel to Rhode Island College for a 7:00 PM start with the Anchorwomen.  Eastern kicks off a three-game homestand, when the Warriors tip-off with Trinity College at 7:00 PM.