Eastern Connecticut Shoots Past Basketball, 83-59
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Dec. 6, 2007) - The Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team shot 55.5% (33-60) from the field and drained 11 three-pointers en route to a convincing 83-59 triumph over Mount Holyoke College this evening in non-conference action at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium. With the win, the Warriors ran their season-opening winning streak to seven straight. The Lyons dropped to 1-7 with their fourth loss in a row.
Four players reached double digits in the scoring column for Eastern Connecticut, which never trailed in the contest. Leading the way for Warriors was junior guard Nicky Morey (Columbia, Conn./Cheshire), who collected 18 points and a game-high seven assists. Senior forward Stephanie Smith (Penacook, N.H./Merrimack Valley) came off the bench to score a game-best 19 points, while junior center Ashley McFetridge (Canton, Conn./Canton) and senior guard Kathy Shaw (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) added 14 points apiece.
First year guard Amber Sinicrope (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) exploded for a career-best 17 points to lead Mount Holyoke. The Lyons also received a boost from sophomore forward Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland), who totaled 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Classmate Erin Cain (Quincy, Mass./Fontbonne Academy) chipped in with 13 points for the hosts, who fell despite shooting 50.0% (23-46) in the game .
Eastern Connecticut enjoyed a 41-20 edge with 1:23 remaining in the opening frame, but Mount Holyoke erupted for the game's next ten points to slice the deficit to 41-30. Sinicrope scored eight of the ten points during the run, connecting on a pair of three-pointers and a layup.
A jumper by senior guard Sara Paradis (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central) at the buzzer halted the spurt and gave the guests a 43-30 halftime advantage. Smith netted 16 of her 19 points before the break.
The Warriors pulled away behind 64.0% (16-25) shooting in the second half. They converted all six of their three-point attempts to help seal things. Morey was outstanding after the intermission, totaling 12 points and six assists.
Sinicrope and Olson recorded nine points apiece for the Lyons in the second stanza.
Eastern Connecticut's final cushion of 24 points was its largest of the night.
Mount Holyoke (1-7, 0-0 NEWMAC) will return to action on Saturday, when it hosts Worcester State College for a non-league tilt beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Connecticut (7-0, 1-0 LEC) will also take the court again on Saturday. The Warriors are slated to entertain Little East Conference (LEC) foe UMass-Boston at 1:00 p.m.
Game Statistics
Video Coverage (CBS 3 - Springfield)
Permanent link to this story: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/stories/5492608