THE BASICS 

Score: Rivier University, 70; Emmanuel College, 90

Records: Rivier University Raiders (6-9, 2-6 GNAC); Emmanuel College Saints (15-1, 9-0 GNAC)

Location: Nashua, N.H. – Muldoon Center

Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2022

THE LEAD: Five Emmanuel College players scored in double-figures to power the visiting Saints past host Rivier University, 90-70 ,Wednesday evening at the Muldoon Center in Nashua, N.H.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Raiders kept things tight in the opening quarter, trailing the Saints by one score through the opening stanza, 17-14.
• With 5:31 to play in the first half, sophomore Lyric Grumblatt (Manchester, N.H.) tied the score at 23-23 before EC put together a 9-2 run capped by a pair of free throws by senior Loredana D'Agostino (Broad Brook, Conn.) to put the Saints ahead at 32-25.
• Emmanuel got the lead up to 10 (41-31) before Grumblatt took advantage of a late foul, sinking three freebies to cut the lead to 41-34, EC, at the break.
• Over the first six minutes of the third quarter, Emmanuel opened the lead up to 16 points after a three by sophomore Olivia Matela (Swampscott, Mass.) made it a 58-42 contest. Graduate student Jamad Fiin (Boston, Mass.) closed the quarter with a buzzer-beater from the wing to give Emmanuel a 68-47 cushion heading into the final frame.
• The Saints put the game away with a 9-2 spurt to open the final period, cruising to a 90-70 road win to improve to 15-1 on the year, matching the best start in program history through 16 games.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Grumblatt led all scorers with a game-high 28 points for Rivier, adding a team-best seven rebounds.
• For the Saints, seniors Korie Mathis (Duluth, Ga.), Riley Lahiff (North Attleboro, Mass.), junior Caitlin Barker (Plainville, Conn.), sophomore Shakirah Ketant (Easton, Mass.) and Fiin all finished in double-figures. Lahiff led the way with 14 followed by 13 from Mathis, 12 from Fiin and 10 a piece from Barker and Ketant.
• D'Agostino ended the day one bucket shy of a double-double, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with eight points.

UP NEXT

• Both squads are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, January 29. The Saints are set to travel to Saint Joseph's College (ME) for a 1:00 PM clash while the Raiders will host Norwich University at 3:00 PM in GNAC action.