BOSTON – With the No. 6 and No. 7 seed on the line on Saturday afternoon on Yosinoff Court in the upcoming Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Playoffs, the Anna Maria AMCATS spoiled Senior Day for the Emmanuel Saints after handing them a 63-58 defeat in the regular season finale for both teams.
The winner of Saturday's contest, Anna Maria, clinched the No. 6 seed, advancing to the GNAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday. At the same time, the loser on Saturday in Emmanuel was sent to the GNAC Play-In Round on Monday.
Prior to the start of Saturday's game, the Emmanuel women's basketball program acknowledged the contributions of
Paris Atuahene and
Desiree Robinson on Senior Day.
Through three quarters, the largest lead of the afternoon for either side was only seven, setting up a critical fourth quarter for who would earn an extra day of rest for the GNAC Postseason Tournament.
Anna Maria led 43-40 to start the fourth, but that lead quickly evaporated as the Saints tied things at 45-45 with 8:14 remaining. Over the next 5:22 of the quarter, the lead changed nine times with neither side able to pull away by more than on possession until an AMCATS three-pointer put the visitors ahead 60-56 with 2:05 to go.
The Saints pulled within a pair with 1:05 remaining on a layup by first-year
Lia Krumian, but those would mark the final points for Emmanuel on Saturday. After trading possessions and keeping their two-point lead, the AMCATS sealed the win with a perfectly drawn-up inbounds play with 5.5 seconds, leading to a breakaway layup. Anna Maria would add a late free throw on the way to their 63-58 win.
For the AMCATS,
Sharayha Scott-Cummings scored a game-high 23 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Senior
Marinique Reddin added 13 points and nine rebounds as the AMCATS improved to 15-10 (10-4 GNAC) with the win.
Robinson scored a career-high 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 33 minutes. Krumian added 12 points off the bench for the Saints while junior
Megan Reilly grabbed 14 rebounds and sophomore
Kaitlyn Bartash finished with 10 blocks. The loss drops the Saints to 13-12 (8-6 GNAC).
Emmanuel heads for the Play-In Round on Monday, Feb. 24, welcoming the No. 10-seeded Regis Pride to Yosinoff Court for a 6:00 p.m. game. The AMCATS will wait until Tuesday, Feb. 25, to return, taking a trip to the No. 3-seeded Albertus Magnus for a 5:30 p.m. tip.