Women's Basketball Cruises Past Lynx for First Win

CAMBRIDGE, Mass – After beginning the season 0-4 the AMCAT Women's basketball team was looking for a way to break the bad run. Thursday they traveled to Cambridge to take on 0-5 Lesley University and they did just that, snapping their four game losing streak with a convincing 30-point, 69-39 victory over the Lynx.

AMCAT senior guard Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn) had a break out night, leading all scorers with 17 points while also picking up nine rebounds and six assists. Freshman guard, Franny Hammond (Worcester, Mass), who led all scorers as the half with 10 points, had a stellar evening scoring 15 points total for the visitors while also adding six assists and eight steals to her stat line. Junior center, Shannon Hoffmiller (Oxford, Conn) and senior guard Kayla Odegaard (Milton, Mass) also scored in double digits with 11 apiece. While those four led the scoring two others made a difference in the rebounding game as senior guard, Maritza Gustave (Fall River, Mass) and junior forward Catherine Loney (West Roxbury, Mass), in just her second game of the season, each grabbed 12 boards in the victory.

For the Lynx, senior guard Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass) led her team's scoring with 14 on the night. Sophomore forward, Dakota Jones (Torrance, Cal) grabbed a double-double on the night scoring 10 and had a game high 15 rebounds. Also grabbing double-digit rebounds with 13 was freshman forward Elizabeth Portante (Littleton, Mass).

This one belonged to the AMCATS from the tip. Anna Maria outscored Lesley 23-11 in the first quarter. While the score line in the second period was even at 10 a side, Hammond led the way with her 10 first half points and Russo was able to clean up the glass with seven first half rebounds. AMC Led the Lynx 33-21 at the break. In the second half it was more of the same. On the heels of 14 points from Russo and 11 boards from Loney the 'Cats outscored their opponent 36-18 in the second half. In the fourth quarter it was all about defense for Bigelow's squad as they held Lesley to just four points in the final 10 minutes. The team traveled home Thursday night with their first victory, 69-39.

Up next for the AMCATS will be their GNAC opener on Saturday afternoon at 1pm in Paxton against Simmon.

To see the full box score from Thursday's game Click Here.