MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Megan Howard (St. Paul, Minn.) scored 10 points as the Saint Anselm College women's basketball team dropped a 52-39 decision against Saint Michael's College on Thursday evening at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.

The Hawks fall to 9-5 on the season, including 3-5 in Northeast-10 play, while the Purple Knights improve to 6-6, 3-5 NE-10.

Howard went 3-for-4 from the field and drained all four of her free throws, in addition to pulling down four rebounds.

Saint Michael's led, 11-10, midway through the opening half when it ripped off a 14-2 run to grab a 25-12 lead with 3:50 to play. A layup from sophomore Tori Lehr (Cohasset, Mass.) and two free throws from Howard shaved the deficit to nine and the Hawks went into the locker room trailing 27-18.

The Purple Knights would push it to 11 right out of the break, but the Hawks would get to within seven at 32-25 with 12:09 remaining. The lead fluctuated from seven to nine over the next four minutes and the Hawks still trailed by seven, 41-34, with 6:05 to play when Saint Michael's went on an 11-1 run to take its largest lead of the night at 52-35 with 1:42 on the clock. A Howard layup and a pair of free throws from sophomore Ashley Viselli (Groveland, Mass.) closed the scoring.

Senior Epiphany Smith (Springdale, Ark.) netted seven points, while Viselli recorded six points and three rebounds. Junior Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H.) posted six points and six boards.

Saint Michael's outshot Saint Anselm, 42.2 percent (19-45) to 30.6 percent (15-49), including 36.4 percent (4-11) to 6.3 percent (1-16) from behind the arc. The Purple Knights turned the ball over 23 times, but won the battle on the glass, 35-25.

Caitlin Quinn and Nichole Adach led the Purple Knights with 14 apiece.

The Hawks return to action Sunday, Jan. 8 at 1:30 p.m. when they hit the road to take on American International College. The next home game for the Hawks is Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1:30 p.m. when they play host to Assumption College at Stoutenburgh.