Anna Maria Takes GNAC Opener Over Pine Manor, 75-36

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Three different Anna Maria players scored in double-figures as the visiting AMCATS defeat Pine Manor, 75-36, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon at Brunelli Court at Pine Manor Gymanasium in Chestnut Hill, MA. The win was the first GNAC win for the Anna Maria Women's Basketball Program, as the AMCATS joined the conference in the fall of 2011. Anna Maria's first GNAC victory help improves the AMCATS to 5-7 overall (1-0 GNAC) while Pine Manor drops to 5-4 (0-1 GNAC).

Anna Maria got out to a double-digit lead early and never trailed en route to the victory. A three-pointer by freshmen Katie Pryor ( (Whitinsville, MA) gave the AMCATS a 10-0 advantage just 3:34 seconds into the contest. Pine Manor would get no closer than a seven point deficit for the remainder of the game, when a jumper by freshmen Natasia Franklin (Windsor, CT) would make the score 17-10 with 12:14 to go in the first half.

The AMCAT lead would swell to 33 points at the end of the first half, following a lay-up by junior Chelsea Blair (Holland, MA) with 1:48 remaining and a three-pointer by junior Alison McCarthy (Lynn, MA) with 28 seconds to go. Blair finished with a double-double, collecting 10 rebounds while also tying with Pine Manor senior Therline Dumeran (Cambridge, MA)  for game-high honors with 14 points. Dumeran also had a team-high nine rebounds and seven blocks for the Gators.

For Anna Maria, Blair was joined in double-figures by sophomore Kayla Cummings (Auburn, ME), 12 points, and senior Samantha Ashton (Worcester, MA), 10 points. Ashton scored all of her 10 points in the first-half, helping Anna Maria to take a 47-14 advantage at halftime. Senior Mary Moroski (Worcester, MA) also collected 10 rebounds for Anna Maria, helping the AMCATS to dominating 57-34 advantage on the glass.

In the second-half, Anna Maria continued to add to their advantage. The AMCats led by as many as 42 points with 12:42 remaining before eventually taking the 75-36 victory.

Anna Maria returns to action on Tuesday evening, January 10, 2012,  when they travel to Rivier College in a GNAC game at 5:30 p.m.