HAMILTON, N.Y. – In one of the most complete efforts so far this season, the Merrimack College women's basketball team took down Colgate University by a score of 63-49. In a game where there wasn't much going in from beyond the arch, it came down to the forwards around the basket to pick up the slack and they did exactly that. Senior,
Carla Balague, and sophomores,
Teneisia Brown and
Amaya Staton, all finished with over 10 points while collecting 15 total rebounds to secure the win.
History was made for the program after the win against the Raiders as this was the first ever victory against a Patriot League opponent for Merrimack College women's basketball.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 63, Colgate 49
Records: Merrimack (3-6, 0-0 NEC) | Colgate (2-8, 0-0 PL)
Location: Hamilton, N.Y.
Rapid Recap
- The first quarter was quite the track race for both sides as there was five different lead changes. After Brown won the opening tipoff, the Warriors didn't waste any time as they got the ball right back to Brown on the offensive glass where she scored an early two. The game plan was obviously running through Brown early on as after a bucket by graduate student, Paige McCormick, Brown got to the paint again and buried a shot and converted the free throw for a three-point play. Coach Morrone then decided to make a substitution in the likes of Staton who then made an immediate impact on the game. The Lorain, Ohio native scored the next three out of the next four Merrimack baskets to keep the Warrior's in front to end the opening quarter.
- The second quarter started with the Raiders going on a bit of a run scoring the first three field goals of the frame. That's when Staton went back to work scoring back-to-back shots for the Warriors to slow down the momentum Colgate had built up. That's when the defenses for both teams locked things down as there was no points scored for a two minute and thirty-three second span to end the quarter.
- After regrouping in the locker room, the Warriors had comeback on the mind and sprung right into action. After a Colgate turnover, McCormick found the ball and took a shot from beyond the arch that fell for three. Then it was time for the Barcelona, Spain native, Balague to go to work on the offensive boards for Merrimack. The senior followed her teammates play in the first half by scoring back-to-back field goals to keep Merrimack within ten points which opened up for a big final ten minutes.
- The comeback was in full effect to start the final quarter as the Warriors simply wouldn't go away. McCormick started things off once again with a big second chance bucket and then after a Balague missed jumper, junior, Kaylee Thomas, snagged an offensive rebound and delivered a pass to a wide open, Diamond Christian. The junior took her time and buried the three to give Merrimack their first lead of the second half. The Warriors didn't let their foot off the peddle after taking the lead as in the following possession junior, Jayme DeCesare, got a perfect feed from Christian in front of the Warrior bench. The Johnston, R.I. native pulled up and nailed the three signaling to the bench in excitement. That seemed to be the nail in the coffin for the Raiders as they were outscored by Merrimack 23-8 in the fourth quarter.
Up Next
Merrimack will hit the road once again as they will have a short break and then travel to Durham, N.H. to take on the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday, December 22
nd at 2 PM.
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