Press Release

SAINT ANSELM WOMEN SPOIL SMC’S SENIOR DAY, 66-61 Kensey notches 25 points, nine boards, five steals in setback FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION February 21, 2004                                                                      Contact: Seth Cole By Josh Kessler ’04                                                                   Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Three Saint Anselm College players in double figures offset Saint Michael’s College senior Erica Kensey’s (Bow, N.H./Bow) 25-point performance as the Hawks held on for a 66-61 Northeast-10 Conference women’s basketball victory on Saturday at the Ross Sports Center. The Senior Day loss dropped the Purple Knights to 10-15 overall and 6-15 in the league, and one win shy of 200 all-time at the Ross Sports Center. Saint Michael’s is still assured a No. 11 seed when the playoff pairings come out in a week, as they will face sixth-seed Assumption College. The game was the final Ross Sports Center appearance for Kensey and classmates Katie Balka (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional), Lindsey Bradt (Albany, N.Y./Hudson Valley CC) and Christine Johnson (South Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames). Saint Anselm improves to 13-11 overall and 11-9 in the NE-10 as the Hawks battle Southern Connecticut State University for the seventh seed in the playoffs. Kensey finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and five steals while Bradt had 14 points, seven assists and seven boards. Sophomore Brigid Hegarty (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) chipped in with nine points and seven assists, and freshman Jevy Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) notched eight rebounds and seven points. Bradt hit all eight of her free throw attempts, but the rest of the team combined to go four-for-15 from the line. Senior Jen Carson (Townsend, Mass.) led the Hawks with 13 points, 12 boards, four steals, three blocks and three assists. Sophomore Raenielle Decastro-Cain (Manchester, Conn.) contributed 14 points, seven boards and five steals, and sophomore Lanna Martin (Calais, Maine) finished with 13 points. Kensey hit eight-of-nine shots in an 11-minute span of the first half, during which time the Purple Knights pulled out to a 19-12 lead. The Hawks countered with a 17-6 run to take a 29-25 advantage with seven minutes remaining in the half, but four free throws by Bradt in the final 48 seconds gave Saint Michael’s a 36-34 halftime lead. Saint Anselm spread out its scoring in the second half, leading for 13:22 during the final frame as four players scored at least six points. Meanwhile, the Purple Knights struggled from the charity stripe, hitting only six-of-15 attempts. The lead changed hands six times during the half, but the Hawks took the lead for good at 53-51 on Martin’s basket with 7:10 remaining. Saint Michael’s could get no closer than a point down the stretch, as the Purple Knights missed four field goals and three free throws in the final 5:20. After Bradt’s free throw cut the lead to 62-61 with 2:40 left, the Purple Knights were held scoreless. The Hawks travel to the College of Saint Rose on Tuesday for their regular-season finale. The Purple Knights travel to Pace University for their last regular-season game on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002