HIGH-SCORING SAINTS SURGE PAST RIVIER, 100-84

NASHUA, N.H. - The Emmanuel College Women's Basketball Team came from behind to surge past Rivier University, 100-84, in a high-scoring Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle on Monday evening.  After trailing for the first 25 minutes of the game, the Saints put together a dominating second half, shooting nearly 60% from the floor as a team and outscoring the Raiders 58-36 in the second stanza. It marks the first time since Jan. 27, 2004 that EC hit the century-mark in points, last reaching the feat in a 102-47 win over Pine Manor College.

With the victory, the Saints even their overall record to 8-8 on the season and improve to 3-0 in the conference.  The loss at home in Muldoon Gymnasium drops the Raiders to 5-8 on the year and 2-1 in GNAC action.

The Saints featured a balanced attack with five players scoring in double-figures, led by Vanessa Bramante's career high 24 points.  Bramante also dished out seven assists and collected six boards in the win.  Junior guard Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) notched a double-double with 18 points and a game-high 10 assists, while also hauling in six steals and recording six thefts in her 31 minutes of action.

Senior center Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) and freshman guard Karlee Alves (Ellington, Conn.) both played well for the Saints, each finishing with 12 points.  Sophomore forward Jen Chalk (Horseheads, N.Y.) was just shy of a double-double with 10 points and eight boards for the Saints.

As a team, the Saints knocked down 40 of 74 shots from the floor, shooting 54.1% on the night.  The tightly-called game featured 47 fouls with Emmanuel going to the line 38 times and Rivier taking 35 free throw attempts.  The Raiders maintained their first half lead due to their solid foul shooting, connecting on 18 free throws in the opening frame. The hosts drained 31-35 from the stripe (88.6%) in the contest.

With their dominance from the line (18-19), the Raiders held a 48-42 lead heading into halftime. Rivier would hold on to its slight edge for the opening five minutes of the second period.  With 14:27 remaining in the contest, Higgins scored down low for the Saints to tie the game at 56-all.  A pair of freebies from Alves on the Saints' ensuing possession swung the lead over to the visitors and EC held on for the remainder of the contest.

Leading the attack for the Raiders, was sophomore guard Caitlyn Perry (Nashua, N.H.), who finished with a game-high 33 points.  Deanna Purcell (Hudson, N.H.) added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Caitlin Bulger (Quincy, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points for Riv.

Emmanuel is back in action this Wednesday, January 21st.  The Saints will play host to the 7th-ranked Jumbos from Tufts University in the Jean Yawkey Center in a 7:00 PM tip.  Rivier will travel to Salem State University to do battle with the Vikings in a non-conference matchup this Thursday, January 22nd.