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| Press Release |
Press Release
PURPLE KNIGHTS DROP A PAIR ON THE HARDWOOD
Men and women each lose fourth straight NE-10 contestFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
December 6, 2003 Contact: Seth Cole
By Katie Healey '04 Phone: (802) 654-2537COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Purple Knights were defeated by Bryant in women’s basketball action on Saturday at the Ross Sports Center. The Purple Knights fought to gain the lead during the first half, trailing by 11 with three minutes of play. A three point basket from Holly Reeves (Arlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic) off a pass from senior Erica Kensey (Bow, N.H./Bow) and a pair of free throws from Brigid Hegarty (No. Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) brought the game to 48-39 at the half. Despite the Purple Knights defensive efforts, the Bulldogs never let up on offense.
In the second half of play, the Purple Knights kept the score close, trailing by three points with six minutes remaining. With 21 seconds left in the game, the score was 80-76, but two pairs of made free throws by Lindsay Hermann (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central) and Kelli Ruppert (Seekonk, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) sealed the victory for Bryant.
Saint Michael’s received 20 points and six assists from freshman Vermont native Dani Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Fall Union). Kensey posted 17 points, five assists, and 13 rebounds in the loss. Reeves and Hegarty each scored 11.
The Bulldogs were paced by Hermann and senior Mary McConnell (Pawtucket, R.I./Saint Raphael Academy) who combined for 47 points against the Purple Knights.
The Purple Knights return to action on Tuesday with a conference matchup at Southern New Hampshire University, before hosting the College of Saint Rose on Dec. 13 at 1:30 p.m.
SMITH NOTCHES 20 POINTS AND NINE BOARDS IN 81-63 LOSS
COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Saint Michael’s College men’s basketball team dropped its fourth straight game Saturday at the Ross Sports Center, 81-63, against Northeast-10 Conference foe Bryant College.
Bryant (5-1 overall, 4-1 NE-10) was led by senior Romuald Augustin’s (Montreal, Quebec/Providence College) 23 points and three blocks while the Purple Knights (2-4, 0-4) were paced by senior Ben Smith’s (Southport Island, Maine/Boothbay Region) season-high 20 points and nine boards.
Smith recorded a four-point play just 14 seconds into the game as Saint Michael’s eventually led 11-6 by the 15:32 mark. However, Bryant countered with a 14-2 run over the next five minutes thanks to nine points from junior Jason Nickerson (Warwick, R.I./Univ. of Rhode Island). The Bulldogs’ lead ballooned to as much as 16 before taking a 45-30 edge into the locker room. The Purple Knights had 12 turnovers and shot 34.4 percent from the field in the half, while the Bulldogs shot an even 50 percent.
Saint Michael’s made a game of it by starting the second half on a 13-4 run to cut the deficit to 49-43, but a balanced Bulldog attack – five players scored baskets during a three-minute span in the middle of the period – quickly turned a 51-45 game into an insurmountable 81-59 lead with a few minutes remaining. The Purple Knights took better care of the ball in the second half, committing only five turnovers, but 33.9 percent shooting did them in.
Nickerson and junior Cullen McCarthy (Mansfield, Mass./Bridgton Academy) contributed to the offense with 11 points apiece as the Bulldogs had eight players score at least five points. McCarthy shot 3-for-3 from beyond the arc to pace Bryant’s 7-for-17 downtown barrage.
Three players notched exactly 10 points for Saint Michael’s. Junior Eric Swiezynski (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) scored all of his in the second half while sophomore BJ Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) and freshman Chris Cayole (Burlington, Vt./Rice Memorial) rounded out the double-digit scorers.