MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Tori Lehr (Cohasset, Mass.) recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Candace Andrews (Boston, Mass.) pumped in 18, to lead the Saint Anselm College women's basketball team to Wednesday evening's 77-60 victory against crosstown rival Southern New Hampshire at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.
The Hawks snap a three-game skid to bump their record to 11-10 on the season, including 7-9 in Northeast-10 play, while the Penmen fall to 7-13, 5-10 NE-10.
Lehr was a monster down the stretch as she contributed 12 points and six boards over the final nine minutes of the contest. For the game, Lehr was 9-for-13 from the floor and 2-for-2 at the line. Andrews, who shot 8 of 16 from the field, including 1 of 2 from deep, and 1 of 1 at the line, while adding six assists, four rebounds and two steals, carried the Hawks in the first half with a game-high 11 points. Senior Briana Jones (White Plains, N.Y.) was also in double figures for the Hawks with 14 points (6-10 FG; 2-2 FT).
Erin Doherty paced the Penmen with a game-high 22 points.
After Saint Anselm grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, SNHU answered right back with a 10-2 run that featured six points from Doherty and opened up an early 10-4 advantage with 13:23 remaining in the opening half.
The Hawks would later use four points from Jones to power an 8-2 spurt that knotted the game at 16-all with 9:13 to play, but the Penmen responded right away and drove the lead back up to four. They would hold on to that lead until an Andrews layup and a pair of free throws from Jones put the Hawks in front for the first time since two minutes in at 25-24 with 3:35 to go.
From there, the lead would change hands four times and the score would knot itself up twice before a layup from senior Ashley Viselli (Groveland, Mass.) with 1:19 on the clock would close the scoring and send Saint Anselm into the break with a 31-29 edge.
Two quick baskets from SNHU gave the visitors the lead back to begin the second half. The Hawks would force three ties over the opening four minutes, but could not break through to grab the lead. Then, out of nowhere, Saint Anselm ripped off a 29-3 run to put the game away.
Six points from Jones and five each from seniors Kierra Moore (Albany, N.Y.) and Meg Morrissey (So. Kingstown, R.I.) helped key the stretch, while Lehr made sure it lasted by contributing 12 points. The defense was sensational during the outburst as it held the Penmen without a field goal for a stretch of 11:03, forcing seven turnovers and an 0-for-13 shooting performance from the floor.
The run finished with a pair of free throws from Lehr that gave the Hawks their largest lead of the night at 70-47 with 5:05 to play. SNHU would tack on the final four points of the contest to close the gap, but the big-time damage had been done.
Moore chipped in seven points (3-4 FG; 1-1 3-FG) and three rebounds off the bench, while Morrissey added six points (2-6 FG; 2-3 FT), five helpers and a pair of rebounds. Senior Allie Jones (So. Kingstown, R.I.) posted four points (1-4 FG; 2-4 FT), six boards, two assists, a block and a steal.
Saint Anselm outshot Southern New Hampshire, 50.8 percent (33-65) to 44 percent (22-50), while neither team shot it well from outside, with the Penmen making 3 of 10 and the Hawks just 2 of 10. SNHU held an advantage in trips to the line, but did not take advantage as it was outshot 69.2 percent (9-13) to 61.9 percent (13-21) from the stripe. The Hawks, meanwhile, outrebounded the Penmen, 41-28, including 25-13 in the second half, owned the paint (44-30), held large margins in points off turnovers (29-6) and second-chance points (14-7) and produced a better assist-to-turnover ratio (18/14-13/17).
The Hawks return to action Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. when they take on Saint Michael's College. The next home game for the Hawks is Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. when they play host to Franklin Pierce University at Stoutenburgh. 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 and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
