NORTH ANDOVER, MA – The Merrimack College Women's basketball team played in Lawler Arena for the first time this season and lost to UC Riverside. Amaya Staton and Diamond Christian combined for 42 points.
The Basics
Score: UC Riverside 65 , Merrimack 53
Records: Siena (3-3, 0-0), Merrimack (2-6, 0-0)
Location: Lawler Arena / North Andover, MA
Rapid Recap
The first quarter was an explosion of offense from the Highlanders and the Warriors couldn't quite keep up. Merrimack fell behind 20-10 after the first. The second quarter was not pretty early on for Coach Morrone's team. The Warriors failed to make a field goal for the first eight minutes and change of the quarter. Finally at the 1:29 mark of the second quarter Amaya Staton hit a pull up jumper to end the drought. Merrimack would go into the half trailing 30-17.
The third quarter saw the Warriors momentarily cut into the lead before the Highlander's quickly extended it to their largest of the game at 19. The Warriors offense was lacking a spark in the third and UC Riverside capitalized by extending the lead ultimately going into the final frame up 48-32.
The spark the Warriors were desperately looking for all game finally came in the fourth quarter with Diamond Christian. Christian, assisted by a pesky Warrior defense, were able to claw their way back, going on a 10-0 run and eventually cutting it to a 51-45 ball game. A killer 4 point play from the Highlanders stifled the run and deflated the Merrimack defense. Still, the Warriors kept fighting back, cutting it to an eight point game but it was too little too late. The Highlanders would steal a win 65-53 dropping Merrimack to 2-6 in non conference play.
Notes and Numbers
- Staton scored her season high 21 to pair with 5 rebounds and 3 blocks on 10-16 shooting
- Christian was electric from three hitting five from downtown en route to a 21 point outing
- The Warriors shot just 25% from three and 40% from the charity stripe
Up Next
Merrimack is back on the hardwood this Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00 PM to take on Yale University.
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