WOMEN'S HOOP FINISHES REGULAR SEASON UNDEFEATED IN GNAC
Feb. 19, 2011
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Emmanuel Women's Basketball Team wrapped up the regular season with an 82-62 win over Johnson & Wales University in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game played at the Harborside Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. The game was the final regular season home game for JWU senior Morgan Wilson (LaGrangeville, N.Y.). It also marked the annual WBCA/Kay Yow Research Fund Pink Zone game for breast cancer awareness.
Freshman Jenna Juron (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) led Johnson & Wales with 20 points, three assists and two rebounds, while Wilson added 16 points, five boards and five assists for the Wildcats. Sophomore Ayla Walter (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in the setback.
Emmanuel was paced by senior guard Kristin LeBel (Tolland, Conn.) with 25 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. LeBel shot 8 for 15 from the floor and drained 5 of 8 from behind the arc. Freshman center Victoria Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Saints. Freshman forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) was also in double-figures with 10 points and six boards in the victory. Breanna Ockimey (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Laura Benvenuto (Wyckoff, N.J.) added 8 points apiece for the visitors.
Johnson & Wales jumped out to the early lead and held a 15-8 advantage on a layup by Walter with 12:36 left in the first half. The Wildcats held a 22-20 lead on a free throw by Juron with just over seven minutes remaining on the clock. Emmanuel then closed out the half on a 27-2 run to take a commanding 47-24 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
The visiting Saints extended their lead in the early stages of the second half and took their largest lead of the game after a three pointer by Ockimey gave the squad the 70-31 lead with 12:20 left in the contest. Emmanuel would then cruise to the 82-62 victory.
With the loss JWU is now 8-17 for the season and 5-7 in the GNAC, while Emmanuel improves to 18-7, 12-0 in league play. Emmanuel earned the \#1 seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament and will host the 8th-seeded Wildcats this coming Tuesday night, February 22nd, in a 7pm start at the Jean Yawkey Center.