Press Release

HEGARTY LEADS SECOND-HALF PUSH IN 70-55 SMC VICTORY 21-3 run keys win, helps Purple Knights strengthen playoff hopes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION February 7, 2004                                                                        Contact: Seth Cole By Josh Kessler ’04                                                                   Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Sophomore Brigid Hegarty’s (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) all-around solid game and a 21-3 second-half run helped the Saint Michael’s College women’s basketball team strengthens its Northeast-10 Conference playoff hopes with a 70-55 win versus Pace University on Saturday at the Ross Sports Center. Hegarty notched 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a block in helping the Purple Knights improve to 8-13 overall and 5-13 in the league. Hegarty also hit four of eight three-point attempts as Saint Michael’s remained in 11th place in the race for a spot in the 12-team postseason tournament. Senior Erica Kensey (Bow, N.H./Bow) had 15 points and four steals while freshman Dani Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) had 14 points and four steals. Kensey now needs 17 points to become the 13th Purple Knight with 1,000 career points. As a team, the Purple Knights collected 14 steals while committing only eight turnovers. For Pace (12-10, 9-8 NE-10), senior Nicola Mignott (Brooklyn, N.Y./Monmouth) put together a monster night off the bench with 18 points, 20 rebounds, and three blocks in 31 minutes. Freshman Hannah Sheppard (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Free) collected eight boards and three blocks while sophomore Jauna Andrews (Augusta, Maine/Cony) contributed 11 points off the bench. Pace was hurt by 22 turnovers and one-for-11 shooting on three-pointers. Its bench outscored its starters, 33-22. In a back-and-forth first half, Pace led 14-9 at the 14:20 mark before senior Katie Balka (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) entered the game for the Purple Knights and helped neutralized Mignott. Balka contributed two rebounds, a layup and a steal as Saint Michael’s came back to take an 18-14 lead. After Pace rallied to tie the game, the Purple Knights went on an 8-0 run and eventually led 31-22 at 5:59 after Hegarty nailed a three. Pace countered with a 10-0 run to take a 32-31 lead behind three boards from Mignott and four points from Andrews, but SMC went into the locker room up, 36-34. Midway through the second half, the Setters rallied to take a 50-49 lead on a Mignott layup. However, Rayner’s shot at 8:50 broke a 50-all deadlock and ignited Saint Michael’s to a 21-3 run that helped them take a 70-53 lead late in the game. During the run, the Purple Knights held Pace to zero-for-nine shooting and forced nine turnovers. Hegarty scored the final nine points for the Purple Knights during the run. Pace plays again on Tuesday at Saint Anselm College while the Purple Knights return to action on Tuesday at the Ross Sports Center against Southern Connecticut State University at 5:30 p.m. Saint Michael’s needs two more home wins for 200 all time at the Ross Sports Center.  ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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Last Revised: October 25, 2002