LATE SURGE POWERS WOMEN’S HOOPS PAST RIC, 57-51

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's basketball team used a 21-10 run over the final seven minutes of regulation to power past Rhode Island College, 57-51, Thursday evening in non-conference action at the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium. The Saints improve to 2-2 on the year while the lost was the first of the season for the Anchorwomen who fall to 2-1.

Trailing 41-36 with 7:05 to play in the fourth quarter, EC began its surge with a layup by graduate student Lena Negri (Arlington, Va.) to make it a one possession game at 41-38. RIC answered with a transition hoop by senior forward Devin Hill (Danielson, Conn.) to bump the lead back to five before the Saints rattled off a quick 7-0 run in a total of 54 seconds to take a 45-43 lead on a layup by senior forward Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) with 5:25 to play.

Following a timeout by the Anchorwomen, junior guard Meghan Reall (Smithfield, R.I.) drained a three-ball to help the visitor's regain the one point lead at 46-45 with just under five minutes to play. It would be their last lead of the night as Emmanuel put together another 7-0 spurt, fueled by five points from Higgins to lift the hosts to a 52-46 advantage with under two minutes to play.

An old fashion three point play from Hill with 1:07 remaining cut the lead to one possession at 52-49 but RIC would not get any closer as the Saints were able to hold on for the 57-51 win.

Neither squad shot the ball well in the opening stanza with the Saints connecting on 31.8% of their attempts from the field compared to RIC's 29.0%. Emmanuel outscored the Anchorwomen in the opening quarter 14-13 before a stingy defensive effort in the second quarter lifted RIC to a 21-19 halftime lead as they held EC to just five second quarter points.

Hill led all scorers with a game-high 20 points while also collecting 11 rebounds before fouling out late in the action. Junior guard Alex Moore (West Newbury, Mass.) added 12 points and six rebounds for RIC.

Higgins paced the Saints with 12 points while Lena recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Alisha Fox (National Park, N.J.) was strong off the bench with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field.

The Saints return to action on Saturday afternoon when they host Skidmore College at 2:00 PM while the Anchorwomen travel to WPI for a 5:00 PM tip the same day.