Women's Basketball Blows Past Franklin Pierce, 76-44

Links: Box Score

RINDGE, N.H. – Continuing its season-long trend of getting off to strong starts, the Merrimack College women's basketball program used a 29-point opening quarter on Tuesday evening at Franklin Pierce to immediately distance themselves from the Ravens. The Warriors never saw their advantage dip below double figures from there, winning by a 76-44 margin at the FPU Fieldhouse.

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 76, Franklin Pierce 44
Records: Merrimack (5-3, 3-2 NE10) | Franklin Pierce (4-6, 1-5 NE10)
Location: FPU Fieldhouse | Rindge, N.H.   

Marquee Moments:

• The Warriors made 7-of-9 from the field to start the game, doubling up the Ravens, 20-10, over the first six minutes of the night
• Sophomore Lindsay Werner (Groton, Mass.) and freshman Alyssa Casey (Andover, Mass.) each had 10 points through 10 minutes, with the latter making all four of her shot attempts
• The Warriors' defense proved crucial over the entirety of the first half, forcing the Ravens into 15 turnovers, which resulted in 21 points for the Navy and Gold

Rapid Recap

• Merrimack continued its trend this season of getting off to strong starts. The Warriors made 7-of-9 attempts over the first 5:58 of the game, including 4-of-5 from distance, to open a 20-10 lead before the Ravens used a timeout
• The Warriors added nine more points over the rest of the first, including a triple apiece for Casey and Werner to take a 29-13 lead to the second.
• The Navy and Gold's defense took over in the second quarter, holding the Ravens to eight points. The hosts shot just 21 percent (3-14) in the middle frame. The Warriors added 12 points to their total, increasing their lead to 20, 41-21, through two quarters
• Werner scored the first five points of the third, and the Warriors used a 7-0 run to open a 27-point lead, 48-21, with 8:04 still remaining in the quarter
• From there, the Ravens used a 14-4 stretch lasting until the 2:57 mark that saw the Warriors' advantage drop to 17, 52-35. Merrimack recovered to keep its opposition scoreless over the rest of the third, surging back ahead by 20 through 30 minutes
• Merrimack's defense forced the Ravens into a four-plus minute scoring drought to start the fourth. During that stretch, Merrimack's lead grew to 28, 63-35, following another trey from Werner
• Senior captain Cecilia Reyes (Lawrence, Mass.) entered the game with 4:48 remaining, making her season debut. The Warriors scored 21 in the fourth en route to the 32-point triumph

Notes and Notables

• After tonight's 29-point outburst to start the game, Merrimack has now scored 167 first-quarter points this season – the most of any frame – outscoring its opponents by 53
• Casey notched her third double-double of the season by posting 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds
• Junior Karlee Alves (Ellington, Conn.) led all players in assists (7) and steals (5)
• Werner led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, which featured six triples on eight attempts. Freshman Mayson Kimball (Webster, N.H.) also finished in double figures with 10 points
• Merrimack's freshmen trio of Casey, Kimball and Marissa Gattuso (Woburn, Mass.) posted one of their best combined efforts of the year, totaling 36 points on 45 percent shooting (14-31)
• The Ravens committed 28 turnovers, which resulted in a 32-8 edge in points-off-turnovers for the Navy and Gold
• The Warriors tied their season high with 11 three-pointers, posting their second-highest scoring output of the year in the process

Up Next
Merrimack's next game will also be away from campus, with the Warriors travelling to Colchester, Vt. to face  Saint Michael's at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.