BOSTON – Returning to the court for their first game of the regular season, Emmanuel women's basketball started the EC Tip-Off Classic in style, picking up a 66-50 win over the Hunter Hawks on Saturday afternoon on Yosinoff Court.
After starting the season with two exhibitions against Division I opponents, the Saints go to 1-0 with their first regular season win. The Hawks drop to 1-1 in the loss and head for the consolation game of the Tip-Off Classic.
After swapping the opening baskets, the Saints made the first major push, holding the Hawks scoreless over the final 5:32 of the first quarter, going on an 11-0 run in that span, to take an 18-6 lead. Emmanuel first-year
Lia Krumian had 10 of the Saints 18 points in the quarter, helping the home side to lead by a dozen.
The lead never sank below double-digits in the second quarter and grew to as many as 16 in the middle of the frame. The Hawks made it to the foul line 13 times in the quarter, making on 11 attempts while outscoring the Saints 17-16 in the second to trail 34-23 at the break.
Emmanuel came out of the locker room strong, starting the third with the first 10 points of the quarter, with two points scored by five different players, boosting their lead to 44-23. The Saints led by as many as 23 in the third and held an 18-point edge, 52-34, with 10 minutes to go.
At its largest point, the Saints led by as many as 24, never allowing the Hawks to find a comeback, as Hunter could only get within 15 points late in the game, as the Saints head for the EC Tip-Off Championship with a 66-50 win.
Krumian led the Saints with 15 points, shooting 5-for-10, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Graduate guard
Olivia Matela finished with 14 points and five steals while senior
Paris Atuahene added 10 points and nine assists.
Hawks junior
Alexa Charles finished with a game-high 28 points, scoring half her total at the foul line after shooting 14-of-16 at the free throw line. Senior
Eliah Yode added 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting for Hunter.
Emmanuel returns to play on Sunday afternoon, facing off against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 3:00 p.m. on Yosinoff Court. Hunter plays the Consolation game at 1:00 p.m. against Lebanon Valley.