MANCHESTER, N.H. - With a strong second half, visiting Pace University came into the Queen City and earned a valuable Northeast-10 Conference victory despite a valiant effort from the Saint Anselm College women's basketball team on Tuesday evening.
UP NEXT:
- Saint Anselm is home again on Saturday, January 20th to take on American International College in Northeast-10 Conference action at 1:30 p.m. from Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.
Score: Saint Anselm 59, Pace 68
Records: Saint Anselm 7-9 (4-6 NE10); Pace 12-4 (6-4 NE10)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Stoutenburgh Gymnasium)
Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Attendance: 52
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- It was a quiet start for both offenses from Stoutenburgh Gymnasium. A driving layup by sophomore Gina Gaccione (Rutherford, N.J.) followed by a long two point jumper from junior Melanie Hoyt (Stamford, N.Y.) made it a 4-4 game after three minutes of action.
- Just over five minutes into the opening quarter, fifth-year Liv Robles (Wallingford, Conn.) got into the paint and scored on a fade-away jumper to make it an 8-5 Saint Anselm lead. Another deep two from Hoyt and a three-point play from sophomore Tatum Forbes (Pawtucket, R.I.) on the next two Hawks offensive possessions gave them a 13-8 advantage.
- Robles closed the quarter on a made three-pointer from the top of the key, assisted by junior Katie Lemanski (Haymarket, Va.), as Saint Anselm took an 18-14 lead into the second. Another triple by Robles and a layup by Gaccione allowed the Hawks to increase that margin to a seven point lead at the start of the second quarter.
- Pace quickly stormed back with a 4-0 run courtesy of back-to-back baskets by Shanice Sinclair and Arianna Stockinger to make it a three point game, but Forbes cashed in on a midrange jumper on the other end to stretch the Saint Anselm lead back to five.
- Both teams would then trade baskets and the lead. The Setters took a 26-25 advantage with three minutes remaining in the half following a three-pointer by Ciara Collins, but Forbes responded with a three of her own to make it a 28-26 game.
- Stockinger converted on a crucial bucket to close the half for the Setters, driving to the hole and scoring while being fouled with 6 seconds in the half. Her made free throw gave Pace a 29-28 lead going into the halftime break.
- Pace came out of the locker room on an 11-0 scoring run with close-range buckets by Collins, Stockinger, Tower Lorde, and Katumina Mansaray. A three from Stockinger gave the Setters a 12 point lead at 40-28, their largest of the game to that point.
- With under four minutes left in the third quarter, senior Alexa Quirolo (New Rochelle, N.Y.) ended Saint Anselm's six-minute scoreless drought with a layup, but a turnaround in the paint by Pace's Mansaray extended their lead to 17 points.
- A step-back jumper by Robles gave her team a little momentum with seconds to go in the third, but the Hawks still trailed, 49-34, entering the final quarter of play.
- Despite a strong opening 10 minutes of the second half by Pace, Saint Anselm attempted to mount a comeback after a crafty low-post finish from Hoyt began the fourth. However, the Setters maintained a 16-point lead with five minutes to play.
- The Hawks remained persistent, and their stingy full court press sparked a 12-2 scoring run to cut the deficit to just nine points with the score at 60-51 and three minutes remaining. Lemanski was a crucial factor during that stretch, drilling two threes and connecting on a pair at the line during that 1:40 span.
- Saint Anselm kept their press up in the final moments of the game, but Pace had success at the free throw line and went six for eight late to hold on for the nine-point victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Saint Anselm struggled from the floor, converting just 20 of their 56 attempts (35.7%), while Pace had an efficient night by making 25 of their 50 total shots (50.0%). The Setters also made half of their three point shots by going four out of eight (50.0%), while the Hawks made just five out of their 15 attempts (33.3%) from long range.
- The Hawks found success at the free throw line by making 14 of 15 (93.3%), while the Setters struggled at the charity stripe and made just 14 of 23 (60.9%).
- Pace won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding Saint Anselm by a 36-29 margin. However, the Setters committed 13 turnovers compared to just nine by the Hawks.
- The Setters also outscored the Hawks, 28-18, in the paint. Despite low scoring outings by both benches, Saint Anselm held a narrow eight-to-five advantage in bench points.
- Forbes led Saint Anselm with 17 points (5-17 FG, 1-3 3-FG, 6-7 FT) and grabbed five rebounds. Robles added 12 points (5-11 FG, 2-5 3-FG) and snagged a game-high nine boards. Hoyt, Lemanski, and Quirolo each finished with eight points apiece in the loss.
- Collins (18 points) and Stockinger (17 points) both had efficient nights for Pace, combining to shoot 12-20 (60.0%) from the field.
- This marked the 44th all-time meeting between Saint Anselm and Pace, with the Hawks falling to 19-25 overall against the Setters.
STAY CONNECTED:
