Manchester, N.H. (January 26) -- The Saint Anselm women's basketball team never trailed in a 77-63 upset of No. 22 ranked Assumption on Saturday afternoon at Stoutenburgh Gym. The Hawks snap a six-game losing streak both overall this season and in the all-time series with Assumption.

After both teams started out quick, it was the Hawks who put together the first run of a half full of them as an 11-2 spurt over a span of 4:46 gave Saint Anselm a 19-10 lead with 10:58 remaining. The Greyhounds answered right back though and pulled within one at 19-18 following a three-pointer from junior standout Beth Plasski (Fall River, Mass.). Saint Anselm regained control though with a 9-0 outburst, highlighted by two putbacks by senior Cassaundra Thorpe (Portsmouth, N.H.) and pushed the lead into double digits at 28-18. Assumption had one more run in them with an 8-0 push, capped by five points from Plasski, to get back within two points with 3:29 left. Saint Anselm again made the lead comfortable at 33-26 on a three-pointer from freshman Katie Larkin (Goffstown, N.H.) and a layup from Kirsten Doldoorian (Oxford, Mass.).

In the opening minutes of the second half, Assumption clawed back to within four points at 43-39 with 15:08 remaining after a layup from Megan Urban (Portland, Maine) before the Hawks answered with a 10-1 outburst to put the lead back into double digits at 53-40 with 11:43 left. Assumption never mounted a serious charge in the final 10 minutes of the contest, due to eight missed free throws in the half by the Greyhounds and an 11-for-13 performance for the Hawks from the line in the period. Rachel Reilly (Londonderry, N.H.) and Erin Higgins (Mansfield, Mass.) combined for six free throws in the final 1:06 to seal the win.

Reilly paced four Hawks in double figures with a 14-point, five-assist afternoon. Cassandra Loftus (Nashua, N.H.) and Thorpe both finished with 12 points, along with a 10-point effort from Doldoorian. Thorpe and Meredith Amyot (Ashford, Conn.) led the Hawks on the boards with eight points apiece. Charde Floyd (Worcester, Mass.) led Assumption with 15 points, while Plasski added 13 and Kayla Parker (Sanford, Maine) posted a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double.

With the win, the Hawks improve to 6-14 overall and 3-12 in the Northeast-10, while Assumption falls to 16-5 overall and 10-4 in the league. Saint Anselm is back in action on Wednesday, January 30th as the team travels to Bryant for a 5:30 p.m. meeting in Smithfield, R.I.