Links: Box Score
COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Merrimack College women's basketball program suffered a 65-60 loss on Saturday afternoon against Saint Michael's College as the Purple Knights held the Warriors to 25 second-half points, overcoming an eight-point halftime deficit from the Ross Sports Center.
The Basics
Score: Saint Michael's 65,
Merrimack 60
Records: Merrimack (5-4, 3-3 NE10) | Saint Michael's (5-5, 2-5 NE10)
Location: Ross Sports Center | Colchester, Vt.
Marquee Moments:
- Merrimack's offense slowed down in the second half, with Saint Michael's limiting the Warriors to 30 percent shooting. The Purple Knights outrebounded Merrimack in the second half, 28-12, contributing to a 38-25 edge on the scoreboard
- Freshman forward Alyssa Casey (Andover, Mass.) banked in a jumper to five the Warriors a 57-56 lead with 3:01 remaining, but the Purple Knights ended the game on a 9-3 run to collect the triumph
Rapid Recap
- Saint Michael's held an 8-6 lead at the 6:15 mark of the opening quarter, but the Warriors went on a 6-0 run over the next 90 seconds – featuring two jumpers from junior Karlee Alves (Ellington, Conn.) – that put Merrimack in front midway through the first
- The Warriors' run extended to 15-5 by the end of the opening quarter. Casey finished with 11 points and five rebounds in the frame, leaving the Warriors with a 21-13 lead entering the second
- Merrimack's lead grew to nine, 26-17, early in the second quarter, but a 6-0 Saint Michael's run brought it back to a one-possession game with five minutes left in the half
- From there, Merrimack used a 9-2 run that widened the Warriors' advantage. Junior guard Lindsay Werner (Groton, Mass.) netted the final five points of the run, giving Merrimack a double-digit lead at 35-25 with 2:40 on the clock. Neither team scored from then until that halftime buzzer, which saw the Purple Knights beat the horn to trim their deficit to eight, 35-27
- Werner scored the first bucket of the third, but Saint Michael's responded with a 7-0 run. With 4:24 left until the fourth, Saint Michael's clawed within two, 40-38, only to see freshman Mayson Kimball (Webster, N.H.) drain a triple, triggering a 5-0 stretch that increased Merrimack's lead to seven
- Saint Michael's ended the third on a 9-2 run, tying the game at 47-all entering the fourth
- The hosts' run spilled into the fourth, claiming a 49-47 lead with the first points of the frame. From there, the Purple Knights never relinquished the lead until Casey's jumper at the 3:01 mark
- Six consecutive points at the charity stripe – with the final makes going down with 32 seconds remaining – increased Saint Michael's lead to five, 62-57. Casey knocked down a right-corner trey to bring Merrimack back within one possession with 24 seconds left, but the comeback attempt ended there
Notes and Notables
- Alves set a new career high with 10 assists, nearly posting a double-double with eight points. Merrimack's point guard also tied for the team lead with four steals
- Werner tied for the game high with 21 points, tying her career best with nine free throws
- Casey finished with a line of 18 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks
- Sophomore Emily Houle (Attleboro, Mass.) led the Navy and Gold with a career-high nine rebounds
- Saint Michael's was led by a 21-point 16-rebound performance from Samantha Delaney
- The Purple Knights totaled a 48-34 advantage on the glass, leading to a 10-point edge in points in the paint (36-26)
Up Next
The Warriors will face No. 3/4 Bentley University at 5:30 p.m. at Hammel Court on Tuesday evening in Merrimack's last divisional game of the opening semester.
