PAXTON, MA - In a crucial Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup between the Anna Maria College AMCATS (6-14, 2-4 GNAC) and Colby-Sawyer College Chargers (13-6, 3-3), it was the Chargers who prevailed in the battle of previous 2-3 GNAC teams by the score, 76-61 at the Fuller Center Saturday Afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Chargers started out the first quarter with a quick 7-0 spurt that was led by Riley Corrigan (Winooski, VT) and her three points. Tianna Sugars (Oxford, ME) and Lexie Hamilton (Sunapee, NH) also chipped in two points for Colby-Sawyer during their run. 
• Despite being down early, Anna Maria cut the deficit to four two times in the quarter. Amber Wilson (New York, NY) corralled a Colby-Sawyer miss that led to a Sierra Johnson (Brockton, MA) bucket to make the score 7-3. Sugars responded with a made layup and the squad capitalized right away after Wilson had another rebound to find Sierra Johnson for another jumper (9-5). 
• However, Colby-Sawyer closed the quarter on an 8-2 run for the 17-7 advantage after one. Hamilton again led the Chargers run with five points that included a buzzer-beater layup and Corrigan added a three-pointer.
• Colby-Sawyer continued their strong play to start the second quarter and pushed their lead to 11 (21-10) after a Joslin Wainwright (Plainfield, NH) made layup. Anna Maria cut the Chargers lead down to five (24-19) when the squad had a 9-3 run early in the quarter. Wilson spearheaded the run with five points that included the jumper to put the 'CATS within five. Franchesca Hammond (Worcester, MA) and Sierra Johnson also had two points in the run. 
• For the last 5:48 of the second quarter, Colby-Sawyer ended the half on an 11-3 run (35-22). Sugars had the hot hand as she had nine straight points for the Chargers while Corrigan made a layup with eight seconds left. 
• As the third quarter was underway, the AMCATS scored four quick points from a Hammond layup and Wilson three-pointer to cut the Colby-Sawyer lead down to eight (35-27). The Chargers pushed their lead back to double-digits again as Caitlyn Boucher (Swanzey, NH) knocked down a three for the 11 point advantage (38-27).
• Anna Maria made the deficit single-digits one more time in the quarter (nine) after Sienna Johnson (Brockton, MA) collected a Wilson missed free throw for the putback to make the score 41-32.
• For the remainder of the quarter, Colby-Sawyer never let the AMCATS get to single-digits again as they increased their lead to as much as 16 (54-38) and closed the quarter with a 57-42 lead after three. 
• In the fourth quarter, the 'CATS just never got within reach as Colby-Sawyer responded each time Anna Maria made a bucket and the Chargers held on for the 76-61 victory. Sugars continued her strong play as she had eight points, Kristen Donaghey (Franklin, MA) and Hamilton were the other scorers with six and five points respectively.
• Sierra Johnson and Wilson did their best to help Anna Maria as they each had six points in the quarter. Gabby Cuevas (West Valley City, UT) added a three, and Sienna Johnson and Hailey Vergara (Rialto, CA) each had two points for the squad. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Sierra Johnson and Wilson were the lone scorers in double-figures for the AMCATS with 21 and 19 points respectively. 
• Wilson also filled out the stat sheet with a team-high eight rebounds and four blocks. On the season, Wilson has now had three or more blocks in 10 games. 
• Johnson's 21 point effort marked the third time she has scored 20 or more points on the year. 
• Cuevas tied a season/career-high with six points all from three-point range. 
• Sugars had a game-high 26 points to go along with nine rebounds. Hamilton and Corrigan rounded out the top-three scorers for the visitors with 15 and 14 points respectively.
• Hamilton had a great showing for the Chargers as she registered a triple-double (15 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds). 
• Colby-Sawyer held the better shooting splits from the field and three-pointers (46.0/40.9 percent) compared to Anna Maria (37.5/28.6 percent).

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria continues GNAC play traveling to Norwich Academy on Tuesday, February 4 at 7 PM. Colby-Sawyer continues their road trip heading to Regis College on Tuesday, February 4 at 7 PM. 

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