Links: Box Score
FAIRFIELD, CONN. – The Merrimack College women's basketball team lost its Northeast Conference opener 63-60 to Sacred Heart University. Senior
Denia Davis-Stewart had another great night scoring 20 points and corralling 18 rebounds in the loss. Freshman
Diamond Christian had 12 points off of the bench for the Warriors. Freshman point guard
Jayme DeCesare chipped in with 11 points and four assists in the conference game defeat.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 60, Sacred Heart 63
Records: Merrimack 7-5 (NEC 0-1) | Sacred Heart 4-8 (NEC 1-0)
Location: Pitt Center | Fairfield, Conn.
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack went down four points early, but came back to take a one-point lead after junior Alyssa Casey knocked down a three and DeCesare stole the ball and scored a layup down the other end. The Warriors took a two-point lead into the second quarter after a DeCesare near half court shot was banked in as time expired.
- The Warriors earned their biggest lead of the half after sophomore Kate Mager knocked down a transition three with just over five minutes left to play. Sacred Heart cut the lead to three after an Adrianne Hagood jumper. Merrimack took a six-point lead into halftime after another buzzer beater. This time freshman Alana Fursman hit a three as time expired.
- In the third, the Warriors and Pioneers went back and forth. Merrimack retained the lead of six after a Davis-Stewart three ball. Sacred Heart tied the game up at 37 after Jayla Davis found the bottom of the net with a three. The Warriors went up six again after back to back buckets by Davis-Stewart and DeCesare.
- Davis-Stewart hit another shot from long range to put Merrimack up eight with close to eight minutes left in the game. Jayla Davis cut the lead to three after knocking down another three with just over five minutes left. Sacred Heart took the lead 53-52 off of a Sonia Smith jumper. The lead was short lived, Christen knocked down an open jumper to give Merrimack a one-point lead. Sacred Heart went up five with 39 seconds remaining. Christian hit a three with 20 seconds left in the game to put Merrimack down two.
Notes and Numbers
- Davis-Stewart extends her conference lead to nine double-doubles on the season. It is also the fourth straight game she has scored 20+ points.
- Davis-Stewart also had five blocks on the night. This is the ninth game of the season she has had five or more blocks.
- Christian went 2-3 from long range in the game.
Up Next
Merrimack gets right back to action on Saturday, January 4
th when they host Robert Morris University. The game is set for 1 p.m. and is a part of a triple header that includes the men's basketball and men's hockey teams.
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