Nov. 25, 2008
Box Score
BOSTON, Mass. - The visiting Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University shot 44.7% from the floor en route to a 64-61 win over Emmanuel College in non-conference women's basketball action played at the Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night. The rivalry featured 4 lead changes and 9 ties, before Eastern Conn. came away with the three-point edge. With the loss, Emmanuel drops to 2-2 on the season, while Eastern improves to 2-1 overall.
The Warriors led for much of the first half, and clung to a four-point advantage at the break, 24-20. Eastern Conn. powered ahead in the second stanza and led by as many as 17 points with fourteen minutes remaining, when senior guard Nicky Morey (Columbia, Conn.) drained a three-ball to put the Warriors up 40-23.
Emmanuel then went on a 13-3 run that spanned six minutes late in the second half. The Saints' surge was sparked by the play of sophomore guard Casey Shevlin (Medford, N.Y.), who returned to action after a pre-season injury and was playing in her first game of the season. During Emmanuel's run, Shevlin converted a conventional three-point play and nailed a tri-fecta, which gave the Saints the lead (55-53) with 3:40 remaining.
Emmanuel held the lead until the two-minute mark, courtesy of a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Kristin LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), which gave the Saints a 57-55 edge. The Saints had no answer for Eastern's sophomore guard Jessica Moriarty (East Haven, Conn.), who diced through the Emmanuel defense and connected on 7 of 9 lay-ups throughout the contest. In fact, it was Moriarty who put the Warriors ahead for good, when she laid the ball in on the right side, giving Eastern a 59-57 lead with 1:17 to go.
Both team missed free throws down the stretch that could have sealed the win. The Warriors left the door open for the Saints and Emmanuel obtained three good looks in the final twenty seconds, including a three-pointer that rolled around the rim and out. Eastern came away with the 64-61 win and has now won six of the last eight meetings between these two programs.
Moriarty led all scorers with 20 points. She shot an incredible 77.8% from the floor (7-9) and was perfect from the line (6-6), while also nabbing 5 boards. Morey added 17 points, including hitting 2 of 3 three-pointers. Senior forward Ashley McFetridge (Canton, Conn.) chipped in with 8 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. She is now just six points shy of 1,000 for her collegiate career. Senior guard Christina Amato (Marlboro, Mass.) dished out a game-high 7 assists for the visitors.
Emmanuel was led by junior guard Iman Davis (Toms River, N.J.), who scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Freshman guard Breanna Ockimey (Philadelphia, Pa.) came off the bench and scored 14 points in 16 minutes for the Saints. Shevlin finished with 11 points and LeBel added seven in the effort.
Both teams will return to action after the holiday break. The Saints (2-2) will travel to Brandeis University next Tuesday night (12/2) for a 7pm start. Eastern Connecticut will travel to Roger Williams University next Thursday night for a 7pm start.
