MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's basketball team fell to Holy Family University by a 64-61 margin in a game played in Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.
Saint Anselm, who trailed by an 18-8 margin through the game's first 10 minutes but came from behind late, dips to 3-4 on the year following the non-league loss while Holy Family ups its record to 5-2. The game prior, the Hawks trailed Southern New Hampshire by a 25-13 score after one quarter and, to date, have been outscored 109-86 in the opening stanza.
Sophomore Gabby Turco (Wildwood, N.J.) led the way with 16 points, making seven of her 12 attempts from the floor, while senior Peyton Steinman (Pittsfield, Mass.) narrowly missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Melanie Hoyt (Stamford, N.Y.) was once again productive off the bench, scoring 10 points with as many rebounds – she also added three blocks and two steals.
Down by five heading into the fourth quarter, Saint Anselm scored six consecutive points to take a 51-50 lead with 7:28 to go. The Hawks grew their late lead to five points, 59-54, with 2:50 to go but could not hold on to the late lead. The Tigers missed just one of their last four field goals, closing the game on a 10-2 scoring run that stunned the hosts – the Hawks missed five of their last six shots.
Saint Anselm scored first in the game, but Holy Family led by as many as 18-6 in the first quarter as the Hawks made just one of their next 11 baskets after the opening layup by Turco. The Hawks also committed seven turnovers as Holy Family took full advantage, shooting 8-for-17 and connecting on two treys.
The offensive muscles continued to be flexed for Holy Family, who built a game-high lead of 20-8 just seconds into the second quarter. Saint Anselm performed well from that moment on, using a 21-9 scoring run to tie the game at 29 with 29 seconds left in the first half – Turco had seven points while Hoyt, who came off the bench after the slow start, poured home six points.
At the break, Holy Family held a slight 31-29 edge, thanks to two late free throws that were sent home with less than a second left on the clock. The Hawks held edges in second-chance points (six), but Holy Family scored 12 points off eight miscues and still held onto the lead despite being outscored 21-13 in the second quarter.
Saint Anselm led by a 41-39 score in the third as an 8-0 run was finished off with a hook shot by sophomore Gia Bramanti (Andover, Mass.) with 3:08 to go, creating the two-point bulge. The Hawks only got off two field goal attempts down the stretch as Holy Family was five-for-eight from the field, building a 50-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Holy Family had a slight edge in shooting (38.8%-to-36.1%), but completely owned the glass with 48 of the game's 84 rebounds – the Tigers picked up 19 offensive boards, limiting the Hawks to just 12. Moe Moore led the Holy Family offense with 18 points and seven rebounds.
Saint Anselm returns to Northeast-10 Conference play on Sunday, Dec. 5, hosting Stonehill at 1:30 p.m.
