Tuesday, January 16, 2013 (Newton, Massachusetts) - The Mount Ida College women's basketball team dropped their second straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) bid to hosting league powerhouse Emmanuel College falling 81-37 Tuesday evening in Boston, Massachusetts at the Jean Yawkey Center. The Mustangs fall to an overall record of 6-8 and are still searching for their first GNAC victory while the visitors remain atop the conference standings at 10-4 for the year and a perfect 2-0 in the league.
Senior guard Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, CT/Bulkeley), who was selected this week's GNAC Player of the Week, opened things up with a baseline jumper for the Mustangs, but this would be the visitors' only lead of the night. Emmanuel quickly scored three consecutive lay-ups, capitalizing on Mount Ida turnovers forced off the Saints' full-court zone press. The Saints held an 8-4 lead after a baseline drive and a lay-up by Liz Daley (Sharon, MA) at 16:40.
Fastbreak baskets by both Leni Negri (Arlington, VA) and Chenae Earle (South Orange, NJ) brought the spread to 14-6 in favor of the Saints at the twelve-minute mark. Another Negri hoop made it a double-figure lead for the Saints. Junior guard Bria Tiro (Saugus, MA) scored for the Saints and Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, MA/Brockton) netted one for the Mustangs to set the score at 23-8 in favor of Emmanuel.
Nearing the five-minute mark, senior forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, CT) netted her fourth-straight hoop and the Saints held a 31-9 advantage. After being held to just three field goals in the opening fifteen minutes of action, sophomore guard Allison O'Connor (Leominster, MA/Leominster) stuck a three-pointer for the visitors and cut the Mustang deficit to 33-14.
O'Dwyer continued to dominate inside and led the Saints to a 43-19 lead at the break. The senior captain led all scorers with her 14 first-half points off 7 for 11 shooting. Sophomore center Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, NH) added 6 points and 3 assists in the opening frame.
O'Connor and Acosta led the Mustangs with 5 points apiece at the break. Rafuse hauled in 12 first-half rebounds for Mount Ida.
The Saints carried their momentum into the second half, pushing their lead to thirty points at 55-25 with 14:40 remaining. Emmanuel got several solid contributions off the bench, including a triple by Tiro at 6:10 to put the Saints up 73-32.
Despite a Mustang offensive spark from Acosta, the Saints were able to hold their double-figure lead throughout and pulled away with the 81-37 win. The Saints' team total of 81 points was a season-high. Emmanuel shot 48% (36-75) from the floor for the game and forced just 26.5% (13-49) shooting by the Mustangs. Emmanuel's tough pressure defense forced a total of 34 Mustang turnovers.
Acosta led Mount Ida with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. O'Connor and Rafuse finished with eight points each. Rafuse also collected a game-high 14 rebounds in the effort.
O'Dwyer finished with 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Saints. Bujnowski, Negri and Tiro rounded out a quartet of double-figure scorers for the Saints, as they netted 10 points apiece in the win. Tiro, Daley and Jasmine Burwell (Brentwood, NY) each pulled in seven rebounds, while O'Dwyer and Laura Benvenuto (Wyckoff, NJ) dished out 4 assists apiece for the Saints.
The Mustangs will host Albertus Magnus College in GNAC action on Thursday at 7:00 PM.
Some Content Courtesy of Emmanuel College Sports Information