SETTERS DOWN HAWKS, 61-56
MANCHESTER, NH - The Pace University women's basketball team defeated the Hawks of Saint Anselm College, 61-56, in Northeast-10 Conference action this afternoon at Stoutenburgh Gym in Manchester, NH. The Setters improve to 16-6 overall and 11-6 in the NE-10, while the Hawks fall to 5-18 overall and 2-16 in conference play.
The first half saw action from both teams, but it would be the Hawks who would take the advantage for most of the half. Tied at 10 with 14:12 left in the half, Saint Anselm built a nine point lead with the help of a 13-4 run. Christina Buckley led the run for the Hawks scoring nine of the 13 points. Saint Anselm led by as many as nine on three different occasions. Down by nine with 5:48 remaining, the Setters used a 12-2 run to regain the lead. Liran Buchris (Massad, Israel/Great Neck South) led the Setter run scoring 10 of the 12 points. Buchris scored all of her game-high 18 points in the first half. Kirsten Doldoorian gave the lead back to the Hawks on a pair of free throws, before Pace took a 34-33 advantage into the break on a lay-up by Ashley Wallace (Oswego, NY/Oswego). There were two ties and five lead changes in the half.
The Setters began the second half on a 7-0 run and never looked back. Pace took an 11 point lead, their highest of the game, at the 12:20 mark on a lay-up by Stephanie Klingele (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa). The Hawks would cut their deficit to one using a 9-0 run, but would be unable to take advantage, as the Setters were able to hold off any comeback attempt.
For the game, Pace shot 40.4% (23-for-57) from the field, 42.9% (6-for-14) from three and 75.0% (9-for-12) from the line, while Saint Anselm was held to 31.4% (16-for-51) shooting from the field and 33.3% (5-for-15) from downtown by the Setters' stingy defense. The Hawks were able to stay in the game with the help of their free throw shooting, as the home team converted on 19-for-25 (76.0%) from the charity stripe.
Wallace scored 13 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Stephanie Rossmy (Staten Island, NY/St. John Villa) finished the afternoon with 10 points. Klingele and Hannah Sheppard (Norwich, CT/Norwich Free Academy) each chipped in with nine points. Sheppard also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. Buchris dished out a game-high seven assists.
Saint Anselm was led by Buckley's team-high 13 points, while Cassandra Thorpe and Doldoorian each contributed with 11 points. Doldoorian also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, giving her a double-double for the game.
Saint Anselm held the rebounding edge, 41-34.
The Setters return to action on Wednesday, February
7th, when they play host to the Dolphins of Le Moyne
College in a Northeast-10 Conference match-up. Tip-off is scheduled
for 5:30 p.m. This will be the second meeting between the two
schools this season. Pace won the first game, 78-44, back on
December 16th in Syracuse, NY.
