WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Seeds Hold in 2022 GNAC Tourney First Round on Tuesday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First Round - Tuesday, February 22
#8 Norwich 58, #9 Lasell 48
#5 Saint Joseph CT 65, #12 JWU 50
#6 Rivier 93, #11 Anna Maria 67
#7 Elms 66, #10 Colby-Sawyer 55

Quarterfinals - Wednesday, February 23
#8 Norwich at #1 Emmanuel  - 7PM
#5 Saint Joseph CT at #4 Regis - 7PM
#6 Rivier at #3 Saint Joseph's Maine - 7PM
#7 Elms at #2 Albertus Magnus - 5:30 PM 

Semifinals - Friday, February 25
1/8 winner vs 4/5 winner
3/6 winner vs 2/7 winner 

Championship - Sunday, February 27
final at highest remaining seed

#6 Rivier 93, #11 Anna Maria 67
NASHUA, NH - The Rivier women's basketball team defeated Anna Maria College this evening in the first round of the GNAC Tournament, picking up their eighth straight victory.   

Helping the Raiders take a 22-point lead into the break was Anna Stenger (Weare, NH) and Alexa Dufries (Leicester, MA). Stenger had a team high 11 points to go along with eight rebounds. Dufries had 10 points of her own while shooting 4-for-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from behind the three-point line.

The AMCATS were led by Franny Hammond, who tallied 12 points and hauled in four rebounds.

Lyric Grumblatt (Manchester, NH) took over from there with 11 points in the second half and seven boards. Rivier had 20 assists on the night, with five Raiders scoring double digits.

Ashley Rufo and Hammond both produced the most for the AMCATS in the second half with nine points each. Hammond picked up the double-double with six more rebounds in the half.  

Grumblatt finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. Stenger had 17 points and 14 rebounds. Hammond had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.

Next up, Rivier women's basketball moves on to the quarterfinals tomorrow evening. They will travel to Saint Joseph's College in Maine for a 7:00 pm tipoff.

Courtesy of Rivier Athletics Communications.

#8 Norwich 58, #9 Lasell 48
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's basketball team was able to withstand a 14-point scoring run in the second quarter on Tuesday evening in Andrews Hall to advance to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Quarterfinals with an 58-48 victory over Lasell in the First Round of the GNAC Tournament.

Haley Brewster (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored 18 points on knocking down 7 attempts from the free throw line. Skylar Burzynski (Orange, Conn.) was second on the team with 14 points, shooting 50 percent from the field and dishing out 2 assists. Erika Thomas (Burlington, N.C.) scored in double figures and MacKenzie Moore (Georgia, Vt.) pulled down 10 rebounds.

The Cadets got off to a hot start with Brewster securing the tip and charging down towards the basket for a layup in the opening five seconds of play. Burzynski then followed up a few possessions later with a steal and eventually found space to knock down the first of her two three-pointers.

Lasell got on the board with 6:54 remaining in the first quarter but Norwich scored seven of the next eight points to take a 10-point lead. Norwich held a 20-10 advantage after the opening frame.

In the second quarter the Lasers went on a 14-point that began with a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter, taking a 21-20 lead.  After the Cadets and Lasers traded baskets on three straight possessions, Norwich took the lead with 2:54 remaining in the first half with a pair of free throws from Brewster. Norwich held a 33-27 advantage into the half.

Norwich came out at the start of the third quarter with the first five points, taking an 11-point lead. With 4:20 remaining in the third quarter Norwich took a 15-point advantage and was able to maintain the lead to the finish.

Norwich (10-14, 7-9 GNAC) will travel to Emmanuel on Wednesday, Feb. 23 for a 7 pm GNAC Quarterfinal matchup with the Saints at the Jean Yawkey Center.

Courtesy of Norwich Athletics Communications.

#7 Elms 66, #10 Colby-Sawyer 55
Chicopee, Mass. – The Elms College Women's Basketball team picked up its first ever GNAC playoff win in its inaugural season in the conference. The Blazers defeated the Colby-Sawyer College Chargers on Tuesday night at Picknelly Arena. Elms will now travel to Albertus Magnus College on Wednesday 2/23 at 5:30pm for a quarterfinal matchup with the Falcons.

Grad student Angelica Peguero-Flores (Springfield, MA) collected her 1000^th career point for the Blazers in the opening quarter of the playoff win. More story to come! 

Courtesy of Elms Athletics Communications.