SAINTS COAST BY RIVIER, 85-61

BOSTON, Mass. –  Emmanuel College coasted to a 85-61 win over Rivier University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium. With the victory, the Saints improve to 14-4 overall and 5-0 in GNAC action and extend their winning streak to nine games. The loss drops the Raiders to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in GNAC play.

EC opened the action with an intense full court press forcing 11 Rivier turnovers during the first seven minutes of the quarter, translating to an early 17-4 lead. Senior Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) scored 10 points during the spurt and helped Emmanuel jump out to a 26-11 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Raiders closed the first quarter on a 4-0 run capped by an old fashion three point play by junior forward Rebecca DeBaldo (Pelham, N.H.). Rivier carried the momentum into the second quarter as junior forward Savanna Butterfield (Londonderry, N.H.) scored on the first possession to cut the Emmanuel lead to 26-13 but it would be the closest they would get as the Saints opened up a lead by as many as 26 in the half. A jumper at the halftime buzzer by EC freshman Talia Roth (Castaic, Calif.) made it 50-28 at the intermission.

The Saints forced Rivier to commit 20 first half turnovers, leading to 26 points for EC. Emmanuel also held a 22-6 points in the paint advantage and won the battle of the benches, outscoring the Raiders reserves 21-6 at halftime.

In the third quarter, both squads scored 14 points a piece in an even 10 minutes of action to make it a 64-42 game in favor of the hosts heading into the final period.

Emmanuel would add to the lead in the final frame, coasting to the 85-61 win.

Higgins ended the action with a game-high 17 points. Sophomore guard Alisha Fox (National Park, N.J.) added 14 point on 5-of-8 shooting while freshman forward Talia Roth (Castaic, Calif.) chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds, both season-highs.

Freshman guard Kaylee Kacavas (Dracut, Mass.) paced the Raiders with a team-high 14 points while Butterfield was a rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points, nine boards and a game-high six blocked shots. DeBaldo finished with 12 points and six rebounds.

The Saints return to action on Tuesday at 7:00 PM when they face No. 10 Tufts University in Medford, Mass. Rivier is back the same night when they play host to Salem State at 7:00 PM at Muldoon Gymnasium.