Nov. 17, 2010

Box Score

Freshman G Cara Deroy and junior G Caitlin Quinn each scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds as Saint Michael's College defeated UMass Lowell, 80-64, Wednesday night in a Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball game at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the NE-10 entering next Tuesday's game at Southern New Hampshire (5:30). Saint Michael's improved to 1-1 and visits Franklin Pierce (5:30) Tuesday.

Sophomore G Bianca Simmons (Middletown, Conn.) led the River Hawks with 19 points and four rebounds as she converted 11 of 14 free throws. Sophomore F Brianna Wilson (Lowell, Mass.) added 13 points on 6 of 9 field goals shooting while junior F Sha'nay Bushner (Akron, Ohio) chipped in 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

Senior F Logan Pintka scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half while senior G Mandy Scott added 11 points.

The Purple Knights enjoyed a 41-31 edge on rebounds, including a 15-7 advantage offensively which led to a 17-6 edge on second chance points.

"We didn't defend obviously at all," said UML Head Coach Kathy O'Neil, who graduated from Saint Michael's in 1981. "In the first half we had too many turnovers. I think we missed 13 layups in the first half."

After 3 for 14 from the 3-point line in the first half, the Purple Knights found their touch in the second, hitting 9 of 11 attempts. UMass Lowell struggled from long range, hitting 5 of 16 attempts.

"Saint Michael's shot their threes very well," said O'Neil. "We're still trying to figure out who we are. Without question that's going to be our challenge. We have some talent, we just have to figure it out. It's a good group, we work hard and we're in extra all the time. We're going to get it. It's just a matter of when we get it."

Saint Michael's held a 52-48 lead with 10:49 left to play and went on a 14-2 run to post a 66-50 cushion with 7:12 remaining. Deroy scored five of her points in the run while Pintka added four points.

UMass Lowell trimmed the lead down to 12 (72-60) with 3:44 left to play on a conventional 3-point play from Wilson, but couldn't muster any closer.

In the first half, Saint Michael's led 29-17 with 3:26 left, but the River Hawks battled back with a 10-0 run behind eight points from Simmons.

"I think the first half Bianca kept us in it," O'Neil said. "We got down and we fought back pretty well. And we did it with our young kids on the floor."

Saint Michael's led at the break 31-27.