Box Score

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Saint Anselm College never trailed en route to their fifth-straight victory with an 80-60 win over Merrimack College on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action at the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium in Manchester, N.H.

The Hawks improve to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the NE-10, while the Warriors fall to 4-5 and 1-3 in league games.

Candace Andrews (Boston, Mass.) posted a double-double with a game-high 22 points to go with 10 assists to lead the Hawks. Kaila Duarte (Dorchester, Mass.) also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Caitlyn Abela (North Easton, Mass.) connected on 3-of-4 three-pointers on the way to 17 points and seven boards.

Raquel Johnson (Inglewood, Calif.) chipped in 14 points and five rebounds off the bench. Samnell Vonleh (Swampscott, Mass.) added four points and six rebounds to go with two blocks.

The Hawks led 15-7 after the first quarter of play and later led 33-22 with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter following a pair of Ali Glennon (Bedford, N.H.) free throws. Saint Anselm eventually took a 35-26 lead into the half after shooting 50% (13-26) from the field through the first 20 minutes of action.

Merrimack made a push coming out of the break as a Lexi Martin jumper at the 7:32 mark of the quarter to make it a 37-34 game. Abela answered on the ensuing Hawks possession with a triple and Raquel Johnson scored on the fast break to put the home team back on top, 45-36. Andrews extended the lead to 57-41 with a baseline jumper, but the Warriors scored the final four points of the period to trail 57-45 headed into the final quarter of play.

Merrimack carried the momentum into the fourth quarter and eventually made it a 59-43 game with 5:50 on the clock. The Hawks answered with a 13-2 run capped off by a Duarte jumper to go up 72-55 with 2:45 remaining. Merrimack would only get as close as 14 the rest of the game as the Hawks pulled away for the 80-60 victory.

Saint Anselm shot 55.8% (29-52) from the field in the game, while holding Merrimack to just 31.0% (22-71) shooting. The Hawks dominated the glass with 44 rebounds to just 33 for the Warriors, however Merrimack did win the turnover battle, committing only 15 miscues to 22 for the Hawks.

Saint Anselm returns to action on Monday night when they travel to #22 Bentley University for an NE-10 game at 7:00 p.m.

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