PAXTON, MA- After Amber Wilson (New York, NY) dropped a career/season-high 36 points last week against Worcester State, Wilson continued her scoring ways after she posted 30 points in the Anna Maria College AMACTS (5-10, 1-0) Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener versus the Rivier University Raiders (4-9, 0-2) at the Fuller Center Wednesday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both colleges played a hard-fought first quarter after Anna Maria outscored Rivier, 20-18. While it was a closely contested quarter, the AMCATS utilized an early 11-3 to start the quarter. In that spurt, Wilson paced the squad with four points that included a jumper to put the team up 11-3. Sierra Johnson (Brockton, MA) and Sienna Johnson (Brockton, MA) also each hit a jumper and Franchesca Hammond (Worcester, MA) put home a three-pointer. 
• Despite being down nine, the Raiders surged on a 10-3 run to tie the contest at 13 with 4:48 left in the quarter. Cydney Lessard (Auburn, NH) hit two big three-pointers in the run while Alexandra Grumblatt (Manchester, NH) knocked down two jumpers which included the tying bucket. 
• After no college pulled away to end the first, the 'CATS utilized a massive 26-17 quarter to pull away from Rivier. Catherine Torpey (Melrose, MA) hit a jumper to put the Raiders down one (24-23) with 7:50 left but that was the closest they got in the quarter. Anna Maria went on a 20-11 run to grab their first double-digit lead (44-34) after Wilson knocked down a free throw. 
• The AMCATS offense continued their strong start after they opened the third on a 13-2 run for their first 20-point lead. Hailey Vergara (Rialto, CA) paced the run with five points that included a three-pointer. Others that scored on the run included (Hammond-3, Wilson-2, and Deyarna Achille (Worcester, MA)). 
• Although Rivier outscored Anna Maria in the fourth, 16-8, it was not enough as the squad held tight defensively and forced four turnovers for the 77-63 triumph. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Along with her 30 points, Wilson posted her fifth double-double after she grabbed 16 rebounds. 
• Wilson notched her second 30 point game of the season (36, at Worcester State-1/9/20).
• Sierra Johnson and Hammond rounded out the double-digit scorers for Anna Maria with 16 and 11 points respectively.
• Grumblatt led the way for Rivier with 17 points, Lessard and Torpey rounded out the top-three with 12 and 11 points respectively. 
• The AMCATS outrebounded the Raiders, 44-38.
• Anna Maria's 77 points mark a season-high. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria continues their GNAC play traveling to Emmanuel on Saturday, January 18 at 3 PM. Rivier returns home against GNAC member, Regis on Saturday, January 18 at 1 PM. 

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