Women's Basketball Makes It Two in A Row in Victory Over Hartford

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – The Merrimack College women's basketball team won its second game in a row against the University of Hartford on Saturday afternoon. Kaylee Thomas was the leading scorer for the Warriors off the bench with 17 points. The senior knocked down five shots from the field, including three shots from long range. Diamond Christian continued to have a strong month of January, scoring 16 points. She went a near perfect 7-8 from the line and knocked down three threes. Makenzie Bray was the only other Merrimack play in double figures with 13 points in the victory.

The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 79, Hartford 66
Records: Merrimack (4-13, 2-4 NEC) | Hartford (0-19)
Location: Hammel Court

Rapid Recap

• After no points for almost the first three minutes of the first quarter, Jada Powell knocked to two free throws to tie the game at two. After a Hawk three, Thomas hit a jumper to put the Warriors down by one. Both Powell and Thomas combined for five straight points to put Merrimack up by four. The Warriors went into the second quarter up by five. Two minutes into the second quarter Amaya Staton scored on a layup to put Merrimack up by six. After getting the advatange down to four, Christian and Fursman both hit threes on back-to-back possessions to go up by 10. Hartford scored two buckets to cut the lead in half. A late three at the end of the half from Thomas gave the Warriors a six-point lead heading into halftime.
• Bray got the scoring going to Merrimack in the second half with a jumper. Staton and Jayme DeCesare then added four more points to put the Warriors up 12. The lead stayed at 12 until a Thomas three made it 15 with five minutes to go in the third quarter. After two points from the Hawks, Christian hit a three to make the advantage 16. The lead was 16 heading into the final quarter. Ava Owens and DeCesare combined for a four-point run to start the fourth, giving Merrimack a 20-point lead. Bray knocked down a jumper to extend the lead to 22. Hartford battled back, getting the lead down to 13. The Warriors would end up winning the game by 13 points.

 
Notes and Numbers

• The Warriors got 36 points from their bench.
• Thomas now has four games that she has scored 10+ points.
• Merrimack shot 21-25 from the free throw line.

 
Up Next
The Warriors get back to action on Thursday night in Lawler Arena when Central Connecticut State University visits North Andover. Game time is set for 7 p.m.