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| Press Release |
Press Release
SMC WOMEN SNAP SIX-GAME SKID, KNOCK OFF LE MOYNE
Kensey records double-double, seven steals in 65-54 victoryFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
January 22, 2004 Contact: Seth Cole
By Josh Kessler ’04 Phone: (802) 654-2537COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Saint Michael’s College women’s basketball team never trailed and used a big game from senior Erica Kensey (Bow, N.H./Bow) in breaking a six-game losing streak with a 65-54 win over Northeast-10 Conference rival Le Moyne College on Thursday at the Ross Sports Center.
The Purple Knights improved to 6-10 overall and 3-10 in the NE-10 with the win, their first of the 2004 calendar year. Their last victory came at home on Dec. 13 against the College of Saint Rose. Le Moyne dips to 2-14 overall and 2-11 in the league with the loss, its eighth in a row.
Kensey, who ranks first in the league and in the top-10 in the nation in steals, had a superb game with 22 points – including 18 on seven-of-10 second-half shooting – to go along with 10 boards, seven steals, four assists, and two blocks. Freshman Jevy Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) followed with 13 points and eight rebounds, and freshman Dani Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) contributed 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. The Purple Knights committed only one first-half turnover and finished the night with 10.
For Le Moyne, freshman Lindsay Carr (Bronx, N.Y./Preston) recorded 11 points and four assists, and senior Jill Hammond (Bloomfield, N.Y./Bloomfield) notched nine points and 13 rebounds. Senior Shelly Conti (Watkins Glen, N.Y./Towson), who harassed the Purple Knights in the first half to the tune of eight points, eight rebounds and four blocks, was a non-factor in the second frame and finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. The Dolphins shot a dismal four-of-12 from the charity stripe and committed 22 turnovers.
Just 39 seconds into the game, Jevy Rayner gave the Purple Knights a lead they never relinquished, as they led for a total of 39:21 during the game. Rayner scored five quick points to help Saint Michael’s lead 9-0 just 2:33 into the contest. Senior Lindsey Bradt (Albany, N.Y./Hudson Valley CC) scored off of a Dani Rayner pass at 15:14 to make it 14-2, and the Purple Knights led 20-9 midway through the half before Le Moyne rallied.
Sophomore Maureen Van Vorst (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) came off the bench and immediately sparked the Dolphins, scoring four points and snagging three rebounds to help Le Moyne pull within 22-20 at 4:23, but the Purple Knights did not relent. Jevy Rayner hit two buckets and the Purple Knights hit four free throws and led 32-25 at halftime.
The Purple Knights started the second half strong, leading by as much as 39-27 when Dani Rayner hit a three-pointer at 17:25. Undaunted, the Dolphins rallied to within 41-37 five minutes later as Van Vorst and Hammond each scored a pair of buckets. However, Dani Rayner responded with another three-pointer a minute later, and the Purple Knights never led by fewer than six points down the stretch. They clamped down over the last 11 minutes, shooting six-of-11 from the field and nine-of-13 from the charity stripe while forcing Le Moyne into six turnovers. During that time, the Dolphins shot only seven-of-19 from the field and one-of-eight from the charity stripe, which included a stretch of seven straight misses.
Le Moyne plays again on Saturday when it hosts Assumption College. The Purple Knights also return to action on Saturday when they travel to Bryant College for a 1:30 p.m. matchup. They return home for a 5:30 p.m. game on Wednesday versus Assumption.
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For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002