Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights |
Postgame Comments
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Senior point guard
Karlee Alves almost posted the first triple-double for the Merrimack College women's basketball program in over two years, sophomore
Alyssa Casey notched a career-high 31 points and the Warriors topped visiting Concordia College, 93-62, in their final game of the Merrimack Conference Challenge. The Warriors won both of their games this weekend by 30-plus points, and scored at least 90 in back-to-back contests for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 93, Concordia 62
Records: Merrimack (2-0) | Concordia (0-2)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Marquee Moments:
- Concordia played well out of the gates, owning a 12-10 lead at the 5:17 mark of the opening quarter. The Warriors, however, surged forward via a 16-4 run to end the quarter, building a 10-point advantage (26-16). Freshman Kate Mager hit three of her final four shots, totaling eight points during the run that gave Merrimack the lead for good
- Merrimack's up-tempo offense shined again. The Warriors posted a commanding 28-2 advantage in fast break points. In the first half alone, 20 of Merrimack's 51 points came on the break while the Clippers did not score a single point in transition
Rapid Recap
- The Clippers scored the game's first six points as Merrimack actually outscored its visitors, 26-10, over the final 7:30 of the opening frame. Mager's triple at the 4:22 mark created the night's first and only lead change
- The start of the second quarter saw Merrimack's lead dip briefly below double digits, 28-20, with 7:57 left until halftime. Senior Lindsay Werner sunk a trey on the Warriors' next possession to increase the lead to 11, and Merrimack led by as many as 18 in the quarter. The Warriors took a 51-34 advantage to the locker room
- Playing in the closest margin of all four quarters, the Warriors edged the Clippers by three in the third frame to take a 73-53 lead into the final 10 minutes. The third quarter saw Merrimack's lead grow to 20 for the first time on the evening
- A 5-0 spurt at the start of the fourth frame ending with a midrange jumper from freshman Caroline Wilson solidified the Warriors' grasp on the win. Sophomore Marissa Gattuso sunk a layup at the 2:29 mark that brought Merrimack's lead to 33, 92-59, its largest of the game
Notes and Numbers
- Merrimack's consecutive 90-point games marked the first such effort for the program since the Warriors' first two victories of the 2004 NCAA Tournament over Adelphi (92-67) and American International (91-57)
- Alves has emerged as the offense's catalyst, totaling a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists on Saturday after a program-record setting 15-helper performance on Friday. The Ellington, Conn. native's nine steals against the Clippers also marked a career high
- Casey posted a game high of 31 points to set a new career best and post the first 30-point game of her career. The Andover, Mass. native joined Alves with a double-double by pulling down a game-high 13 boards, while shooting 12-of-22 from the field
- Werner notched her second straight 20-point effort with 21 points, 19 of which came in the opening stanza. She ended the weekend as Merrimack's leading scorer (24.5 ppg)
- Junior Denia Davis-Stewart was a force defensively again, swatting away a game-high five shots. She owns 11 blocks through two games and 172 over 47 career contests
- Mager posted a breakout performance, totaling 16 points off the bench on 6-of-10 shooting including 4-of-7 from distance. Merrimack's bench outscored Concordia's, 26-12, overall
Up Next
The Warriors face Assumption on home on Wednesday night in their Northeast-10 Conference opener. Tip-off at Hammel Court is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
