Press Release

SMC OUTMATCHES GOLDEN KNIGHTS, 75-55 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION December 13, 2003                                                               Contact: Seth Cole By Katie Healey '04                                                               Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Senior Erica Kensey (Bow, N.H./Bow) collected 20 points and nine steals to lead the Saint Michael's College women's basketball team to a 75-55 victory over the College of Saint Rose at the Ross Sports Center in Northeast-10 Conference action on Saturday. The victory improves the Purple Knights' record to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in league play, their second straight conference victory. The Golden Knights fall to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the NE-10. Saint Rose turned an early 9-1 lead into a 16-8 advantage with 10:52 to play in the first half thanks to eight points from sophomore Elisa Haggarty (Morristown, N.J./Morristown). However, timely free throw shooting and six steals during the remainder of the half - including four by Kensey - keyed a comeback effort, and the Purple Knights took their first lead since early on, 26-25, at the 3:33 mark. The Purple Knights led 31-29 at halftime. Saint Michael’s stretched their two-point halftime lead to a 16-point margin at 51-35 thanks to a 20-6 run in the first eight minutes of the second half. During that time, the Purple Knights received eight points from freshman Jevy Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union) and five points apiece from Kensey and freshman Dani Rayner (Westminster, Vt./Bellows Falls Union). After that, their lead never dipped below 10, as the Purple Knights finished with 14 points off of turnovers and 26 points in the paint. Dani Rayner finished with 18 points for the Purple Knights, sophomore Holly Reeves (Arlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic) notched 12, and Jevy Rayner had 10 points and five assists. Sophomore Brigid Hegarty (North Andover, Mass./Central Catholic) chipped in with seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals from the bench. The Purple Knights shot 20-for-26 from the free throw line and recorded 21 steals to Saint Rose's three. Kensey collected seven steals alone in the first half. The Golden Knights hurt themselves greatly by committing 29 turnovers, compared to 15 for the Purple Knights, and saw Haggarty finish with 21 points thanks to five three-pointers. Saint Rose returns to action on Jan. 2 in an NE-10 match-up at American International College while the Purple Knights play again on Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Ross Sports Center against conference rival UMass Lowell at 1:30 p.m. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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