NORTH ANDOVER, MA – The College of Saint Rose women’s basketball team outscored Merrimack College 14-7 throughout the final 4:41 to take a 67-60 Northeast-10 Conference victory over the Warriors at the Volpe Center tonight. The Golden Knights (8-9/7-5 NE-10) have now won three in a row, including four of their last five, while pulling to within a game of .500 for the first time since the beginning of December.
Neither side led by more than a four points during the first 35 minutes until Saint Rose embarked on its decisive run down the stretch. With the score tied for the ninth time at 53-53, sophomore forward
Ali Johnson scored in the paint to spark a quick 6-0 burst for the Golden Knights. Senior guard
Elizabeth Buckley added a layup and sophomore guard
Ashley Rath buried a pair of free throws that put Saint Rose on top 59-53 with 2:10 to go.
Merrimack (7-10/5-7 NE-10) cut its deficit in half when senior guard Casey Miller knocked down a 3-pointer at the other end. However, junior forward
Amy Voelkel answered with a “three” of her own and the Golden Knights went 5-for-6 from the stripe in the waning moments to seal things.
Saint Rose tied its season-high with 10, 3-pointers in the contest (10-for-22) and picked up 17 assists on 24 field goals. Meanwhile, the Warriors coughed up the ball 20 times, but shot 47.2 percent (25-for-53) from the floor to keep themselves close throughout.
Voelkel recorded her second “double-double” of the year by tossing in a career-high 16 points and hauling in 10 rebounds to lead Saint Rose. Rath and Buckley also dropped in 16 points apiece while combining for six, 3-pointers.
Miller led all scorers with 18 points to pace Merrimack. Freshman forward Kelly Schatzlein filled up the box score with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while sophomore guard Gennifer Roy added 15 points, all in the second half.
Saint Rose returns home Saturday afternoon following two consecutive road contests. The Golden Knights are set to welcome UMass Lowell for a 1:30 pm league doubleheader at the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium. Following the men’s game, Liberty Mutual Insurance will sponsor a reception to tip-off a membership drive to join the Golden Knights Club.
Box Score