AMCATS Upset Raiders on Senior Day, 87-82

PAXTON, Mass. – The Anna Maria College women's basketball team climbed past the Raiders of Rivier University, 87-82, at home on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

With the final win the AMCATS improve to 6-19 to end the season and 3-13 in conference play while the Raiders drop to 10-14 overall and 7-9 in the GNAC.

Before the game the AMCATS recognized four seniors who played in their final home game: Deja Taitt (cambia Heights, N.Y.), Emily Capstick (Worcester, Mass.), Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) and Nicole Mareiro (Acushnet, Mass.).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The AMCATS were led by senior guards Deja Taitt and Nicole Mareiro who scored 22 points apiece in the victory. Christina Gauvin followed up with 21 points of her own. Freshman Hailey Moore (Worcester, Mass.) rounded out the double digit scoring for the AMCATS with an additional 10 points. 

The Raiders were led by Caitlyn Perry who posted a game high 31 points. Caitlin Bulger followed Perry's lead with 15 points. Savanna Butterfield and Rebecca DeBaldo rounded out the double digit scoring for the Raiders with 14 points apiece. Savanna Butterfield also had a game high 18 rebounds.

The Raiders outrebounded the AMCATS by a 46-39 margin. However, the AMCATS outscored the Raiders 13-10 in second chance points. Anna Maria forced 18 Raiders turnovers and scored 13 of their 87 points off of those errors. The game saw four ties and two lead changes.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Anna Maria came out of the gate firing away with a three pointer made by senior Emily Capstick.) to give the AMCATS the early lead 3-0. As the first quarter went on the AMCATS and Raiders continued to battle back and forth. The Raiders were able to take the lead with 14 seconds left in the first quarter after two made free throws by Rebecca DeBaldo to bring the score to 24-22. The Raiders came out hot in the second quarter with a lay-up from Kaylee Kacavas to make the score 26-22. The Raiders never gave up the lead in the second quarter. However, the AMCATS were able to cut the score down to one point with 2:25 left with a lay-up from Deja Taitt (38-37). The Raiders answered right back with a lay-up of their own from Savanna Butterfield to bring the halftime score to 40-37.       

The third quarter was the difference in the game with the AMCATS taking action early as a made jump shot from Moore cut the Raider's lead to two (44-42). The AMCATS did not look back and went on to outscore the Raiders 29 to 13 points in the third quarter. The AMCATS ended the third quarter with a 66-53 lead. The Raiders were not done fighting yet and were able to bring the score within one point in the 4^th quarter with 3:23 left after a free throw made by Rebecca DeBaldo. The AMCATS were able to secure the 87-82 victory with a final free-throw made by Gauvin with just .4 seconds on the clock.