Anna Maria Edged In Overtime Battle Against Johnson & Wales, 77-70

PAXTON, MA - Although Anna Maria was down by as much as eight points in the fourth quarter, the AMCATS forced overtime against the Wildcats after a personal 12-3 run by Amber Wilson (New York, NY). However, Johnson & Wales University (JWU) hit a three-pointer at the end of the fourth and outscored the'CATS 8-1 in overtime for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win Wednesday afternoon at the Fuller Center. 

BASICS

- Date: February 12, 2020

- Score: Johnson & Wales University 77, Anna Maria, 70

- Records: Johnson & Wales University (11-11, 3-5 GNAC), Anna Maria (6-16, 2-6 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first three minutes of the contest (6:21), Anna Maria raced out to an early 7-2 lead after Wilson knocked down two free throws and a three. Sienna Johnson (Brockton, MA) also converted a layup for the team. JWU responded quickly with a five-point burst led by Marissa Cottrell (New Britain, CT) when she hit a three and Maddy Moro (Catawissa, PA) put in a layup and evened the game at seven. 
• Anna Maria pulled ahead by four (13-9) from a Wilson layup, but the Wildcats came within one (13-12) with a little over a minute left (1:31) when Tara Murphy (Killingworth, CT) knocked down a three-pointer. 
• When the second quarter started, the AMCATS went on a 7-0 run and created their largest lead of the game (20-12) just two minutes in the quarter (8:19). It was all Sierra Johnson (Brockton, MA) and Wilson in the surge who paced the squad with five and two points respectively. Despite being down eight, JWU had an 11-0 run and the Wildcats retook the lead, 23-20 with a little over five minutes in the half (5:42). Cottrell spearheaded the run after her two three-pointers, Tiondra Hands (Boynton Beach, FL) also had a three and Moro finished the run with a jumper. 
• The JWU lead was shortlived as the AMCATS retook the lead multiple times. While being down 23-22, Sierra Johnson made a three and put the squad up, 25-22. After JWU tied the contest, Wilson gave Anna Maria the lead once again (28-25) by a three of her own. Again, the Wildcats tied the contest but the 'CATS responded when Sierra Johnson made a layup for the 30-28 score. However, JWU ended the half on a 6-0 run from threes by Hands and Tera-nay Lee (Minneapolis, MN) to go up 34-30. 
• For the third quarter, Anna Maria outscored the Wildcats, 19-17 but JWU generated their largest lead (44-36) after Brittney Gallagher (New City, NY) hit a three. The AMCATS cut that lead in half (46-42) from a Gabby Cuevas (West Valley City, UT). JWU would not let Anna Maria even the score again in the quarter and went up by seven (51-44) off a Kasimia James (Kauai, HI) layup.
• In the last 1:23 of the quarter, Anna Maria pulled within two courtesy of a Franchesca Hammond (Worcester, MA) three and two Wilson free throws for the 51-49 deficit. 
• Nearly six minutes left in the fourth, JWU generated another eight-point lead from a James layup and gave the Wildcats a 63-55 advantage. However, for the second time, the squad erased a JWU eight-point lead when Wilson orchestrated a massive 12-3 personal run highlighted by two and-one conversions to put Anna Maria up, 67-66 with 1:09 left.  
• With just six seconds left, Wilson knocked down two free throws for the 69-66 AMCATS lead. Although there was little time left, Gallagher hit a deep big-time three with just a second left and forced overtime. In overtime, it was all Wildcats as they outscored Anna Maria, 8-1 with half of the points scored by Gallagher and Hands added a three while James made a free throw for the 77-70 win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

- Wilson scored a game-high 34 points highlighted by her 12-3 personal run in the fourth. 

- Tonight's 34-point effort marked the fourth time she has scored 30 or more points. She has also scored 20 or more points in 11 games this season. 

- Wilson also swatted away three shots which is her 13th time this season with three or more blocks. 

- Sierra Johnson was the other scorer in double figures with 20 points on the afternoon. Johnson has scored 20 or more points in four games this year. 

- Hands led JWU with 20 points while Cottrell, Gallagher, and Moro rounded out the double-figure scorers with 18, 13, and 13 points respectively. 

- Although JWU was slightly outshot from three (35.3 percent vs. 30.0 percent), the Wildcats knocked down a season-high 14 three-pointers.

- The AMCATS and JWU each were 37.5 percent from the field. 

- Anna Maria forced 18 turnovers compared to their 16. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Anna Maria hits the road for GNAC action against Regis College on Saturday, February 15 at 1 PM. JWU returns home for a GNAC matchup versus Rivier University on Saturday, February 15 at 1 PM. 

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