BOSTON, MA - Despite a massive 21-8 third quarter, the Anna Maria College women's basketball team (5-11,1-1) fell to the Emmanuel College Saints (11-5, 3-0 GNAC), 70-55 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at the Andy Yosinoff Court Saturday afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Emmanuel raced out to a quick 11-3 in the opening minutes of the first after Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda (Cambridge, MA) scored all 11 points which included a converted and-one opportunity. 
• However, the AMCATS roared back with an 11-2 run of their own spearheaded by Sienna Johnson (Brockton, MA) who had four of the 11 points. Hailey Vergara (Rialto, CA) cut the lead down to one (13-12) after she hit a three-pointer. After a Saints missed layup, the squad took the 14-13 lead after Deyarna Achille (Boston, MA) put in the go-ahead layup. 
• Once the second quarter was underway, Emmanuel heated up and utilized a 20-5 outburst to take a 35-19 lead headed into the half. In the quarter, Ramirez-Tejeda and Polina Ovchinnikova (Moscow, RF) each chipped in four points and Jamad Fiin (Boston, MA) had three to round out the top-three scorers in the quarter. 
• Although the 'CATS were down big going into the third, they outscored the Saints, 21-8 shooting a solid 44.8 from the field. In Anna Maria's offensive outburst, Sierra Johnson (Brockton, MA) paced the AMCATS with seven points that included a made three-pointer. Sienna Johnson also continued her strong shooting with six points on 3-4 shooting. After their strong quarter, the squad cut down the 16-point deficit to just three (40-43) going into the fourth quarter. 
• The Saints ended up pulling away in the fourth as they started the quarter on an 11-4 run lead by Loredana D'Agostino (Broad Brook, CT) who had four points. Fiin capped off the run after a made three-pointer to give Emmanuel a 54-44 lead at 7:05.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Sienna Johnson led AMCATS scorers with a season-high, 18 points. Vergara was the other double-digit scorer for the squad with 13 points off the bench. 
• Amber Wilson (New York, NY) led Anna Maria with 12 rebounds. Wilson now has had double-digit rebounds in four out of her last five games.
• Ramirez-Tejeda posted a double-double for Emmanuel (23 points/18 rebounds). D'Agostino also had a double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 
• In Anna Maria's big third quarter, the squad forced seven Saints turnovers and had shooting splits of 44.4/25 percent. Meanwhile, Emmanuel shot just 16.7 percent from the field and zero percent from three. 
• However, for the game, Emmanuel slightly outshot the 'CATS (36.4 versus 33.3 percent). Anna Maria held a better three-point percentage (19 versus 15 percent). 

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria continues GNAC play when they host Suffolk University on Tuesday, January 21 at 7 PM. Emmanuel travels to Norwich University on Tuesday, January 21 at 7:30 PM. 

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