Women's Basketball

January 20, 2010

Solid Defense Leads Women's Basketball Past New Haven, 59-44


Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2009-10/stats/wunhstm.htm.

COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team (5-10, 3-9 Northeast-10 Conference) rallied from a halftime deficit to earn a 59-44 win against the University of New Haven on Wednesday evening at the Ross Sports Center.

For the Purple Knights, senior Alexis Keller (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) led all scorers with 13 points, making 7-of-9 free throw attempts. Classmate Michelle Otey (Southborough, Mass./Algonquin Regional) added 10 points and seven rebounds for Saint Michael's, who outscored the Chargers 37-21 in the second half to earn the win and snap a two-game losing skid. Junior Meghan McCormack (Barrie, Ontario/Saint Peter's Secondary School) grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds off the bench to aid the Purple Knights.

For New Haven (7-10, 5-7 NE-10), senior Helin Marte (Woodhaven, N.Y.) recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while freshman Jill Baranager (Fairfield, Conn.) scored 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. The Chargers outrebounded Saint Michael's 54-43, including 24-9 on the offensive glass, but shot just 25 percent from the field in dropping their eighth straight contest.

A tight, defensive first half saw New Haven hold a slim 23-22 lead. Baranger netted 10 of her 12 points in the opening half to lead the Chargers, while Otey's eight points and five rebounds in the opening period kept the Purple Knights in the contest.

Saint Michael's locked down defensively in the second half. The Purple Knights scored the first five points of the period, taking the lead for good at 25-23 on a jumper by Otey with 16 minutes to go. New Haven, meanwhile, scored just two points in the first 7:30 of the second half, and finished the second period with just seven field goals in 41 attempts (17 percent from the field after halftime). Saint Michael's, meanwhile, sealed the win at the free throw line, as the Purple Knights made 18-of-28 free throws in the second half, including eight straight in a 34-second span that turned a 48-39 lead with 2:12 to go into a commanding 56-39 advantage with 1:38 left.

Saint Michael's returns to action on Saturday, as the Purple Knights visit Assumption College for a 1:30 p.m. contest. New Haven hosts Saint Anselm College on Saturday at 2 p.m.

##PURPLEKNIGHTS###