Wildcats Best Women's Basketball, 63-54

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, R.I.) scored a game-high 27 points and added five rebounds and three assists to lead the Johnson & Wales University women's basketball team to a 63-54 victory against the AMCATS of Anna Maria College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest at the Wildcat Center on Monday afternoon.

With the victory Johnson & Wales improves to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the GNAC while Anna Maria drops to 6-10 overall and 1-2 in league play. 

Johnson & Wales sophomore Bobbie Whitehead (Brooklyn, N.Y.) notched a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds while freshman Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, Mass.) had seven points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Senior Trafficia Warburton (Worcester, Mass.) led the way for Anna Maria with 20 points and 11 rebounds while sophomore Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) was also in double-figures with 12 points, four rebounds and three steals.

The early part of the contest saw a back and forth battle with visiting Anna Maria holding a 10-9 advantage on a three-pointer by freshman Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn.).  Johnson & Wales led 18-17 before closing the half on 17-5 run, capped by a layup by senior Kaitlin Kenney (Branford, Conn.) to give the Wildcats the 35-22 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.  JWU held a commanding 21-8 advantage in rebounds for the half and connected on 51.9% (14-for-27) of their shots from the field while holding Anna Maria to just 31.6% (6-for-19) shooting.

The visiting AMCATS chipped away at the lead and regained the advantage, 38-37, on a three-pointer by Russo with 13:16 left on the clock.  Again, Johnson & Wales responded and built back their double-digit lead when a jumper by Pederzani put the team up 61-50 with 1:36 left in the contest.  The Wildcats then held on for the 63-54 victory.

Anna Maria returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Suffolk University in a 3:00 p.m. GNAC contest.