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Contact: Seth Cole - Phone: 802.654.2537

MANCHESTER, N.H. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball (13-10, 11-9 Northeast-10 Conference) earned its third straight win on Wednesday, 47-36, at Southern New Hampshire University.

With the win, coupled with losses by Merrimack College and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Saint Michael's has clinched a top-eight seed in the NE-10 Tournament, and a home playoff game in the First Round of the playoffs. That game will be held on Sunday, February 27 at 2 p.m., against an opponent yet to be determined.

Sophomore Nicole Adach (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) led a balanced scoring attack with eight points and five rebounds. Classmate Megan Olsen (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) and senior Logan Pintka (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie Central) added seven points apiece, while senior Marilyn Ferreira (New London, N.H./Kearsarge Regional) chipped in with six points and a career-high eight rebounds in her home state.

For SNHU (10-14, 8-12 NE-10), Sloane Sorrell scored a game-high 14 points.

The 36 points allowed is Saint Michael's best defensive effort since a 45-35 win versus Saint Anselm College to close out the 2009-10 season. It also is the second straight game that the Purple Knights have held their opponent to 40 points or fewer.

Neither team shot well in the first half, a period that saw Saint Michael's take a 17-14 lead. The Purple Knights made just 6-of-29 field goals in the opening 20 minutes (21 percent), while the Penmen shot just 24 percent (5-of-21).

Saint Michael's never relinquished its lead in the second half, although SNHU did trim its deficit to one point on two occasions. The Purple Knights were able to hold on thanks to superior rebounding, as Saint Michael's grabbed 40 boards in the game compared to just 31 for SNHU, and held an 18-9 edge on the offensive glass.

The Purple Knights are back in action on Saturday at Merrimack at 1 p.m.

-PURPLEKNIGHTS-