Posted: Nov 15, 2016

AMCATS Fly to 59-49 Victory over Hawks

Becker

(0-1)

Anna Maria

(1-0)

Final

Becker (0-1)

Anna Maria (1-0)

Game Leaders

Becker

Pts: 2 Players (#11, #24) - 12

Reb: Ciara McKissick - 11

Ast: 3 Players (#11, #24, #32) - 3

Anna Maria

Pts: Nicole Mareiro - 21

Reb: Deja Taitt - 8

Ast: Deja Taitt - 8

Team Stats

Becker

Anna Maria

Field Goals

(18-51)

(22-63)

Field Goal %

35.3%

34.9%

Rebounds

Assists

Turnovers

Pts off Turnovers

2nd Chance Pts

Bench Pts

Full stats

PAXTON, Mass. --- The Anna Maria College women's basketball team opened their 2016-2017 season with a 59-49 victory over the Hawks of Becker College on Tuesday night.

With the win the AMCATS rise to 1-0 to start the season while the Hawks fall to 0-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Anna Maria was led by senior guard Nicole Mareiro (Acushnet, Mass. / Colony Regional Vocational), who exploded off the bench with 21 points on seven three-pointers. Junior guard Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn. / South Windsor) finished with 14 points while senior guard Deja Taitt (Cambia Heights, N.Y. / Mary Louis) filled up the boxscore with 13 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Collectively, the AMCATS shot 14 of 38 from behind the arc. Anna Maria also won the turnover battle, forcing 22 for Becker while committing only 14 themselves.

Sophomore guard Ciara McKissick (Charlton, Mass. / Shepherd Hill Regional) led Becker with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Freshman guard Mariah Triplett (Coral Springs, Fla. / Piper) came off the bench to shoot four-of-eight from behind the arc, while sophomore forward Adrianna Dowdy (East Haven, Conn. / Hill Regional Career) added five points, seven rebounds and two steals.

FIRST HALF:

The opening minutes of the game saw the Hawks struggle with early season rust, as the AMCATS quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Becker managed to score the next three baskets to come within one point. Anna Maria led by as many as nine but Becker finished the first quarter strong, with Triplett hitting a three and the defense holding off a push by the hosts. Anna Maria led 17-14 going into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the Hawks hit two quick baskets with freshman guard Cassidy Harrison (Foxborough, Mass. / Foxborough) giving Becker their first lead of the game at 19-17 with 8:44 remaining in the first half. The teams spent the rest of the quarter trading baskets, finally going into halftime tied 32-32. Both teams were reliant on three-point shooting in the first half with Becker going 6-for-17 from behind the arc and Anna Maria shooting 7-for-16. Triplett led all scorers at the break with 12 points, all coming off three-pointers.

SECOND HALF:

As the third quarter got underway, the Hawks started to make their move, using a 7-2 run to take their largest lead of the game, a stretch including a three from freshman forward Sarah Ware (Oakham, Mass. / Quabbin Regional). The visitors did, however, leave points on the table, going just two-for-nine from the free throw line. The teams entered the final quarter with Becker leading 41-36.

In the fourth, Anna Maria burst out with a 17-5 run, retaking the lead off of a three pointer from Mareiro with 6:18 left in the game and never looking back. Four turnovers in the first five minutes plagued Becker, as the AMCATS fed off the energy of a reinvigorated home crowd. Down 53-46 with 2:48 left, Becker called a timeout. Becker pulled to within four off a free throw from freshman guard Kelsey Maynard (Millville, Mass. / Tri-County Vocational), but back-to-back threes from Anna Maria put the hosts up by ten with 24.8 seconds left, finally putting the game out of reach.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The AMCATS travel to Nichols College on Saturday, November 19^th for a non-conference meeting with the Bison starting at 1:00 p.m.

Becker College will be back on the court on Friday when they travel to Worcester State University to play in the 2016 Worcester City Tournament. The Hawks will play cross-town rival WPI at 8:00 p.m.