MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Candace Andrews (Boston, Mass.) led all scorers with 21 points, but the Saint Anselm College women's basketball team lost its season opener to intracity-rival Southern New Hampshire University, 74-65, Wednesday evening at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Andrews shot 10-for-20 from the field and filled out her stat line with eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and a block.
- Sophomore Ali Glennon (Bedford, N.H.) was also in double figures with 17 points (6-15 FG, 3-7 3-FG, 2-2 FT) to go along with three rebounds.
For the foes…
- Sara Ryan paced the Penmen with 17 points and seven rebounds.
- Kylie Lorenzen posted a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
- Olivia Conrad also netted 15 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Neither team led by more than two points until five straight from Andrews ignited an 11-2 run that gave Saint Anselm a 19-12 lead with 2:06 to go in the opening quarter. Southern New Hampshire closed the period with five straight to cut its deficit to 19-17 after one.
- Five straight points from freshman Samnell Vonleh (Swampscott, Mass.) started a 7-0 rush that handed the Hawks their largest lead of the night at 28-20 with 5:41 remaining in the second quarter, but eight points from Lorenzen powered a 12-0 surge to end the half and give the Penmen a 32-28 lead at the break.
- The third quarter began with eight lead changes and a tie before a 10-2 swing – with eight points coming from Conrad – put the Penmen on top for good at 50-43 with 1:10 on the clock. They would carry a 50-45 advantage into the final quarter.
- Southern New Hampshire would pick up where it left off, beginning the fourth quarter with seven straight points as part of the larger 17-4 avalanche that gave the visitors their largest lead of the contest at 57-45 with 8:37 to play.
- The margin was 10 at 63-53 with 4:28 on the clock when a Saint Anselm crafted a 10-2 run that was capped by a pair of Glennon 3-pointers that pulled the Hawks to within 65-63 with just under a minute remaining. A crucial layup from Erin Doherty with 34 ticks on the clock made it a two-score game and the Penmen would sink seven of their 10 free throws down the stretch to seal it.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Vonleh posted seven points (2-5 FG, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds and three blocks in her debut.
- Senior Raquel Johnson (Inglewood, Calif.) notched six points (3-6 FG) and five boards.
- Southern New Hampshire outshot Saint Anselm, 42.6 percent (29-68) to 40 percent (26-65), and also made more free throws (15) than its opponent attempted (13).
- Neither team had the hot hand from downtown as the Hawks were just 4 of 16 (25%) and the Penmen went 1-for-9 (11.1%).
UP NEXT
- The Hawks are back in action Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. when they take on Stonehill College.
- The next home game for the Hawks is Tuesday, Nov. 24 (5:30 p.m.) when they play host to Saint Michael's College.
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