Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Sophomore forward
Alyssa Casey of the Merrimack College women's basketball program saw a high-arching jumper kiss off glass and in to send Wednesday night's Northeast-10 Conference opener against Assumption College to overtime from Hammel Court. The visiting Greyhounds recovered, however, breaking an 81-all deadlock with under six seconds left in the extra session to claim an 83-81 victory.
Assumption led by five, 70-65, with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter before Merrimack mounted an 8-3 run to close regulation. Merrimack took a brief lead, 71-70, but Assumption converted with a layup to take a one-point edge. On the other end, senior
Karlee Alves delivered a baseline inbounds to Casey, who hit a turnaround jumper to force overtime.
The Greyhounds also got off to a swift start in overtime, going ahead by five (81-76) at the 1:35 mark. The Warriors rallied to score the next five points as Alves converted three free throws and freshman
Mayson Kimball sunk a layup. With 19 seconds left and the score tied at 81, the visitors worked the clock down to five seconds left before Morgan O'Donnell converted her 15
th and final field goal of the night to secure the victory.
The Basics
Score (OT): Assumption 83,
Merrimack 81
Records: Merrimack (2-1, 0-1 NE10) | Assumption (2-1, 1-0 NE10)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap
- A slow start to the opening quarter turned into a furious finish. The local rivals combined for just 13 points in the first seven minutes, with Merrimack leading by one (7-6). The team's then scored 16 points over the final three minutes, with the Warriors ending the frame with five unanswered. Freshman Kate Mager hit a 3-pointer, and senior Karlee Alves stole the ensuing inbounds pass to convert a lay-in, giving Merrimack a 17-12 lead after 10 minutes
- Assumption recovered in the second quarter to take a 27-26 lead with 2:15 to play. Merrimack, however, turned on the jets to close the half. The Warriors brought an 11-2 run to halftime behind a pair of treys by senior Lindsay Werner and one to close the half by Mager, ballooning Merrimack's advantage to eight, 37-29
- Merrimack started the third quarter well, opening a 14-point lead with 7:52 on the clock following a bucket for Kimball. Over the next five minutes, however, the visitors used a 24-10 run to tie the game at 53, but the Warriors saw junior Denia Davis-Stewart sink a turnaround jumper to give the hosts a two-point lead (57-55) entering the fourth
- With the score tied at 59, Assumption used an 8-2 run to build a 67-61 advantage with 4:01 remaining. Four straight free throws from Werner brought the Warriors within two, 67-65, before Assumption took its five-point lead (70-65). The overtime session saw Merrimack score one point over the first three minutes, but tally six points over the final 120 seconds to nearly pull out the win
Notes and Numbers
- O'Donnell led all players with 39 points, shooting 15-of-27 from the lead to lead the Greyhounds to victory
- Five Warriors scored in double figures led by Werner's 23 points. Alves filled up the stat sheet again with a career-best 19 points, seven boards, seven assists and five steals. Casey and Mager combined for 23 points and 15 boards
- Assumption owned the glass, outrebounding the Warriors by 13 (49-36). The Greyhounds pulled in 17 offensive boards, and claimed a 14-3 edge in second-chance points
- Also in the interior, the visitors scored 46 points in the paint compared to 32 for Merrimack.
- Merrimack excelled at the charity stipe, making 18-of-21 free-throw attempts
Up Next
Merrimack heads on the road for another in-season tournament, where the Warriors will face Dominican (N.Y.) and Felician this weekend in Orangeburg, N.Y. The first contest will pit Merrimack against the host Chargers on Friday night at 5:30 p.m.
