Women's Basketball Flies Past Becker, 66-32

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College women's basketball team took control early and did not look back as they raced to a 66-32 victory over the Hawks of Becker College in Thursday's non-conference matchup.

THE SERIES

The win marks the fifth-straight for Anna Maria in the series against Becker. Becker's last victory was a 61-40 home win on December 9^th, 2010.

AMCAT LEADERS

The AMCATS were paced by sophomore Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn.) with 14 points, followed by junior Deja Taitt (Cambia Heights, N.Y.) with 13. Classmate Nicole Mareiro (Achushnet, Mass.) added nine points off the bench, while senior Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) also finished with nine points. The AMCATS saw nine different players score in the victory.

Junior Emily Capstick (Worcester, Mass.), senior Lindsay Bond (Webster, Mass.), and freshman Shannon Hofmiller (Oxford, Conn.) all finished with six rebounds apiece.

Deja Taitt picked up a block and a fast break layup early in tonight's 66-32 win against @beckercollegeathletics! She finished with 13 points and shot 6-for-8 from the floor. #AMCATNation #d3hoops #instanthighlight

A video posted by Anna Maria College Athletics (@goamcats) on Nov 19, 2015 at 5:43pm PST

BECKER LEADERS

The Hawks were paced by Katey Anderson (Beechwood, N.J.) with 10 points. Averie Bassingthwaite (Swanzey, N.H.) and Marissa Turner (Coventry, R.I.) both finished with five poinst, while Ciara McKissick (Charlton, Mass.) recorded a game-high eight rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The AMCATS and Hawks traded baskets in the early minutes but Anna Maria took control for good on an old-fashioned three-point play by Taitt with 5:29 to play in the first quarter. The AMCATS would lead 16-8 after the first frame and would take a double-digit lead in the second. Their largest lead of the half game on the final basket, as Hofmiller got an offensive board and hit a buzzer-beating layup to send the AMCATS into the locker room with an 18-point lead at 32-14.

Anna Maria continued to build on their lead in the second half and managed to work in some new faces. Senior Jessica Goulet (Lawrence, Mass.) saw 10 minutes of action in the second half and acquired a game-high three blocks in that window.  

FINAL COMPARISONS

Anna Maria shot at 43.5 percent from the floor (27-62) and hit six of 23 attempts (26.1 percent) from three-point range. Becker hit 12 field goals in 56 attempts for a 21.4 percent shooting effort. The AMCATS held a 38-12 advantage in points in the paint and a 10-1 lead in points off turnovers.

Becker finished with 19 turnovers, eight of which were forced—Gauvin led the AMCATS with a team-leading three steals.

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria continues its four-game homestand on Saturday when it hosts Nichols College at 1:00 p.m. Becker will host MCLA on Tuesday, November 24^th at 6:00 p.m.