WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Briana Jones (White Plains, N.Y.) scored 10 points and senior Curran Leighton (Dover, N.H) reached the 1,000-point plateau, but the Saint Anselm College women's basketball team suffered a 57-44 loss in Saturday's Northeast-10 matchup with Assumption College at Laska Gymnasium.
The Hawks fall to 4-11 on the season, including 1-10 in Northeast-10 play, while the Greyhounds improve to 11-4, 8-3 NE-10.
Jones was 3-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-6 at the line.
The Hawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game on a three-point play and a jumper from Jones. After Assumption had cut it to one at 7-6 on 3-pointers by Katy Howard and Marissa Velez, another Jones jumper and free throws by freshman Krista O'Gara (New Fairfield, Conn.) pushed the lead back to five at 11-6 with 15:48 remaining in the opening half.
Five straight points from Gabrielle Gibson knotted the game at 11 with 14:14 to go. After sophomore Allie Jones (So. Kingstown, R.I.) made one of two at the line, a Sabrina Siciliano jumper gave Assumption its first lead of the contest at 13-12 at the 13:16 mark. A foul line jumper from junior Tori Lehr (Cohasset, Mass.) put the Hawks back on top, but the Greyhounds grabbed the lead for good with a 7-0 run that made it 20-14 midway through the half.
An Allie Jones layup and a 3-pointer from the left wing by O'Gara trimmed the Saint Anselm deficit to one at 20-19. The teams then traded baskets before Assumption finished the half on a 12-0 run that included four points apiece for Siciliano and Gibson and made it 34-21 at the break.
The Greyhounds picked up where they left off, starting the second half with a 3 from the right corner by Gibson. After the teams traded baskets, three straight points opened the lead up to 42-23 at the 16:47 mark. A Velez trey a minute-and-a-half later, followed by a Shannon Ray jumper, widened the gap to 22 at 47-25 with 13:30 remaining.
A 6-0 run brought the Hawks back within 16 with 8:26 to play, but after the teams traded hoops, a 5-0 spurt made it 54-33 with 4:45 left. Leighton followed with a layup that gave her the 1,000th point of her collegiate career before a Caitlin Ackerman free throw made it a 20-point game at 55-35 with 3:37 on the clock.
Saint Anselm responded by closing the game on a 9-2 run – with five points from freshman Raquel Johnson (Long Beach, Calif.) – to slice the final margin to 13.
Lehr scored eight points (3-6 FG; 2-2 FT), pulled down eight rebounds and made two steals, while Allie Jones added seven points (3-6 FG; 1-2 FT), four boards and two steals. O'Gara, Johnson and junior Meg Morrissey (So. Kingstown, R.I.) each chipped in five points, while Leighton had four.
Assumption outshot Saint Anselm, 40.9 percent (18-44) to 34.9 percent 15-43), including 33.3 percent (6-18) to 20 percent (1-5) from behind the arc. The Greyhounds held a slim 30-29 edge on the glass and outscored the Hawks, 22-11, in points off turnovers as they turned it over 19 times and forced 23.
Gibson led Assumption with 14 points, while Siciliano added 13.
The Hawks return to action Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m. when they travel to take on Southern Connecticut State University. The next home game for the Hawks is Saturday, Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m. when they play host to Le Moyne College at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
