Box Score
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's basketball team defeated visiting Southern Connecticut State University, 60-50, in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium in Manchester, N.H.
The Hawks improve to 9-6 overall and 6-5 in the NE-10, while Southern Connecticut drops to 12-6 and 5-5 in conference games.
Raquel Johnson (Inglewood, Calif.) posted a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds to go with four assists, a block, and two steals in the victory. Caitlyn Abela (North Easton, Mass.) scored 13 points and had three blocks, while Ali Glennon (Bedford, N.H.) chipped in 10 points. Candace Andrews (Boston, Mass.) stuffed the stat sheet with six points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals, with Samnell Vonleh (Swampscott, Mass.) coming off the bench to add seven points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
Jackie Beathea led Southern Connecticut with 15 points and 14 rebounds, with Maria Weselyj adding 12 points. Nicole Grossbard had four points, eight rebounds, and five assists for the Owls.
After a back-and-forth start to the game, a three from Paige Decker gave Southern Connecticut a 10-6 lead with 4:38 to play in the first quarter. Jackie Beathea sandwiched scores around a Samnell Vonleh layup as the Owls took a 15-8 lead nearly three minutes later, and SCSU held a 17-10 lead following one quarter of play.
A three-point play from Beathea staked the Owls to a 20-12 advantage early in the second quarter, and the Hawks started their comeback with a layup from Candace Andrews. Ali Glennon followed with a triple to knife the deficit to just 20-17 and Raquel Johnson nailed two free throws with 5:46 to play to pull the Hawks to within one at 20-19.
Southern Connecticut answered with a three-point play from Taylor McLaughlin followed by another Beathea basket inside to build their lead up to six with 4:43 remaining. Saint Anselm ended the half on an 8-0 run capped off by a Samnell Vonleh layup before time expired to take a 27-25 lead into halftime.
The Hawks carried the momentum into the third quarter, opening the period on an 18-4 run to take a commanding 45-29 lead with 3:53 to play. Caitlyn Abela poured in eight points during the run, with Glennon, Johnson, and Kaila Duarte (Dorchester, Mass.) adding buckets and Clairee Putnam (Windham, N.H.) capping off the run with a three from the corner.
Southern Connecticut was able to stay in the game by ending the third stanza with six-straight points to make it a 45-35 game headed into the final quarter.
Raquel Johnson opened the fourth quarter with a jumper, but Southern Connecticut continued their strong play and rattled off nine-straight points to pull within three at 47-44. Maria Weselyj netted five points during the stretch for the Owls.
Candace Andrews ended the run with a jumper, but Danielle Powell answered right back for the Owls to keep SCSU within one score. After Weselyj cut the deficit to only 50-48, Ali Glennon buried a three to go back up by five and a free throw from the sophomore just under a minute later pushed the lead to 54-50.
The Owls were forced to foul to stay in the game and stop the clock, but the Hawks went a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity stripe down the stretch to pull away for the 60-50 victory.
Both teams struggled from the floor in the game with the Hawks shooting 37% (20-of-54) compared to 29% (18-of-62) shooting for the Owls. Southern Connecticut won the rebounding battle 43-39, but the Hawks forced 14 turnovers leading to 16 points, while committing only 12 missteps themselves.
Saint Anselm is right back in action on Monday afternoon when the Hawks wrap up non-conference play with a 3:00 p.m. matchup against Bloomfield College.
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