Posted: Jan 19, 2017

Cadets Push Pass AMCATS in GNAC Battle

Anna Maria

(2-13 (0-8 GNAC))

Norwich

(9-6 (5-3 GNAC))

Final

Anna Maria (2-13 (0-8 GNAC))

Norwich (9-6 (5-3 GNAC))

Game Leaders

Anna Maria

Pts: Christina Gauvin - 18

Reb: TEAM - 7

Ast: Deja Taitt - 4

Norwich

Pts: Heather LeBlanc - 33

Reb: Arianna Harrison - 13

Ast: Arianna Harrison - 8

Team Stats

Anna Maria

Norwich

Field Goals

(21-56)

(23-67)

Field Goal %

37.5%

34.3%

Rebounds

Assists

Turnovers

Pts off Turnovers

2nd Chance Pts

Pts in the Paint

Fastbreak Pts

Bench Pts

Full stats

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Anna Maria College women's basketball fell to the Cadets of Norwich University, 64-52 on the road on Thursday evening. Cadet's senior Heather LeBlanc (Sanford, Maine) scored a career-high 33 points to lift the Cadets over the AMCATS in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

Norwich move to 7-2 all-time against the AMCATS, improving to 9-6 overall on the year and to 5-3 within the GNAC. Anna Maria falls to 0-8 against league competition, dipping to 2-13 overall on the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Senior guard, Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) led Anna Maria with 18 total points, shooting 8-for-15 from the floor. Deja Taitt (Cambia Heights, N.Y.) had a solid game for the AMCATS, tallying 15 points while regularly making clutch baskets late on fast breaks.

LeBlanc was 13-for-15 from the floor, scoring 33 points and narrowly missing a double-double with nine rebounds. Junior Arianna Harrison (Vernon, Vt.) reeled in 13 of her team's 49 rebounds, leading the way while also tabulating half of her team's 16 assists, setting a career-high in helpers. Senior Kayla Mercer (New Britain, Conn.) posted 10 points and junior Shyann Josler (Thetford Center, Vt.) scored eight points and seven rebounds alongside three assists and two takeaways. Mercer joined Harrison by playing all 40 minutes for the Cadets in the game.

The AMCATS shot 37.5 from field goal range (21-of-56) while the Cadets shot 34.3 percent (23-of-67). Anna Maria outshot Norwich from three-point range, 25 percent (5-of-20) to 19.4 percent (6-of-31). The Cadets outrebounded the AMCATS 49 to 31 and forced Anna Maria to make 14 turnovers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In a game that saw five lead changes, the Cadets opened up an 18-10 lead at the end of the first quarter following seven-straight Norwich points down the stretch. A made free throw by LeBlanc only 1:22 into the second quarter would elevate Norwich to a game-high 12-point lead before back-to-back AMCATS triples would shrink the hosts lead to six points.

Ahead by six points late in the first half, Anna Maria used a Nicole Mareiro three-point basket and a foul shot late to set the halftime score at 26-24, Norwich. The Cadets shot only 21.6% (8-for-37) in the opening 20 minutes, but scored all 18 of the game's second-chance points to maintain the slim halftime advantage over Anna Maria.

With the score tied at 39 with 3:19 left in the third quarter, Christina Gauvin of the AMCATS made a clutch layup and a Hailey Moore free throw would create a 42-39 lead for Anna Maria. The AMCATS, however, would later be issued a technical foul that would turn the game on its head completely.

The Cadets elected to have LeBlanc shoot the technical free throws and she cut into the lead with two clutch makes. Mercer, who was originally fouled prior to the technical, put the Cadets into the lead for good with back-to-back free throws to elevate Norwich to a 43-42 lead. A clutch three-point basket by LeBlanc down the stretch would create a four-point advantage for the Cadets, 46-42, entering the final 10 minutes of action.

Norwich would cruise to the 12-point victory by controlling play in the fourth quarter, using the momentum from the technical foul and the four-straight free throws made to capture the victory. On the game, Norwich would out-rebound the AMCATS by a 49-to-31 margin and scored 30 points on second-chance opportunities.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Anna Maria hosts Albertus Magnus on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. for a GNAC contest. Norwich returns to action this Saturday, Jan. 21, taking on Rivier University in a conference matchup in Nashua, N.H.