SAINTS HAND RAIDERS FIRST CONFERENCE LOSS
Jan. 18, 2010
Boston, Mass. - The Emmanuel Saints eased to a 79-46 win over the visiting Raiders of Rivier College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's basketball action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Monday evening. The league win for the Saints pushed the hosts to 12-4 on the season and 3-1 in the GNAC. This was Rivier's first conference loss of the season, as the Raiders drop to 12-4 overall and 3-1 in the league. Senior guard Iman Davis (Toms River, N.J.) led the hosts with 20 points in the win.
Emmanuel jumped out to an early lead in the first half and never looked back. The Saints knocked down 19 of their 35 attempts from the floor, shooting an amazing 54.3%, in the opening frame. Rivier struggled offensively in the early going, as the Raiders were held to just 6 first-half field goals and shot just 20% from the field.
Davis led all scorers in the first period with 16 points on 7 for 12 shooting in just 15 minutes of action. Junior forward Steph Adams (Nashua, N.H.) led Riv with 6 points in the opening frame. The Saints overpowered the Raiders on the boards in the first half, out-rebounding the visitors, 29-15. Emmanuel took a 44-20 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Out of the break, the Saints went on a 6-0 run and stretched their lead to 30 points (50-20) on a layup by Davis with 17:29 on the clock. Emmanuel pushed the margin to as many as 35 points on a baseline trey by Chenae Earle (South Orange, N.J.), giving the Saints a 66-31 lead with 11:22 remaining. Emmanuel hung on to a solid 30-point advantage for the remainder of the contest and finished with a 79-46 win.
Davis led all scorers with 20 points, knocking down 9 of 14 from the field. Sophomore guard Breanna Ockimey (Philadelphia, Pa.) chipped in with 12 points on 5 for 8 shooting, while Earle added 9 points off the bench for the Saints. Thirteen of fourteen Emmanuel players found the scoring column in the win. Sophomore forward Jenna Ross (Centerburg, Ohio), the only Saint not to score, came in and dished out a team-high 5 assists off the bench.
Earle and Pamela Mobley (Worcester, Mass.) combined for 6 blocks for the Saints. Freshman forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) led Emmanuel on the boards with 7 rebounds on the night. The Saints finished with a strong 52-38 rebounding advantage over the Raiders.
Rivier's leading scorer Jess Mellen (Rockland, Mass.) was held scoreless by the Saints' defense for the first 25 minutes of play. Mellen's first field goal came off a put-back in the paint with 15:00 left to play. She finished with just 6 points, but led the Raiders on the glass with a game-high 11 rebounds, while dishing out 6 assists. Adams led Rivier in scoring with 10 points on 4 for 9 shooting.
The Saints will be back in action on Saturday, when Emmanuel plays host to the Cadets of Norwich University in a 3pm start. This is the nightcap of a GNAC men's and women's basketball double-header on Saturday in the Jean Yawkey Center.