New Haven, Conn. (November 17) -- On Saturday
evening, the Saint Anselm women's basketball team dropped a 92-71
final to No. 2 ranked Southern Connecticut in the Hawks' season
opener. In addition to being the opener for the Hawks, the game
marked the head coaching debut of Saint Anselm first-year
head coach Chris Leazier.
The two teams got off to a slow start before the Owls took a 2-0
lead on a jumper from Alexis Allen
(Southbury,
Conn.). The Hawks evened the
score on a runner in the lane by senior Rachel Reilly
(Londonderry,
N.H.) and the two teams settled
into an offensive rhythm. The Owls built the lead to 16-7 with
12:55 left in the opening half and the two teams traded baskets for
much of the remainder of the half. Southern Connecticut built the
lead to as many as 14 points at 34-20 with four minutes left in the
half, but the Hawks were able to cut the lead to single digits at
36-27 with a 7-2 run capped by a layup by Carleen Orawsky
(Worcester, Mass.). Kate Lynch
(Rumford,R.I.)
scored the final eight points of the half for the Owls and the
hosts took a 43-31 lead into the halftime break. Reilly led the
Hawks with 12 points in the first half, while Lynch was the Owls'
leading scorer with 15 points.
The Owls came out quickly in the second half and pushed the lead
to 16 at 55-39 with 16:33 left. From that point though, the Hawks
went on an 11-2 run over the next 3:11 that was capped off by a
three-point play from Cassaundra Thorpe
(Portsmouth,
N.H.) and the Hawks trailed by
just seven at 57-50. Southern Connecticut had an answer of its own
though with a 13-6 run over a 3:33 span and pushed the lead back to
16 at 72-56, forcing Saint Anselm to call a timeout with 8:59
remaining. Southern Connecticut increased the lead to 92-69 with
just over one minute remaining and came away with the 92-71 win.
Reilly and Higgins tied for the team lead with 17 points each, a
career high for Higgins and tying a career best for Reilly. Thorpe
also finished with 16 points, including 13 coming in the second
half. Lynch led all scorers with 22 points for the Owls as four
players finished in double figures for the hosts.
With the loss, the Hawks drop to 0-1 overall and in the
Northeast-10, while the Owls improve to 1-0 overall and in league
play. Saint Anselm opens its home schedule on Tuesday night as
Bryant University visits Stoutenburgh Gym for a 5:30 p.m. start.
That game can be viewed live at www.NE10.tv.
