SMC overcomes 12-point second half deficit, improve to 10-8 on the season

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Contact: Seth Cole - Phone: 802.654.2537

Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2010-11/files/wumlstm.htm.

COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team (10-8, 8-7 Northeast-10 Conference) rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to earn a 12-point win, 73-61, versus the University of Massachusetts Lowell in league action on Thursday at the Vincent C. Ross Sports Center.

The win is Saint Michael's second straight, and the 10th for the team this season, surpassing the nine wins the Purple Knights had all of last season.

For the Purple Knights, senior Logan Pintka (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie Central) tallied a team-high 17 points and nine rebounds, draining 9-of-10 free throws. Classmate Mandy Scott (Vergennes, Vt./Vergennes Union) came off the bench to add 15 points, all but two of which came in the second half, as she buried 5-of-6 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 3-pointers. Sophomore Nicole Adach (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds.

For UMass Lowell (NE-10), sophomore Briana Szidat (Pelham, N.H.) netted 17 points before fouling out with 5:40 left in the contest. She was the only River Hawk to score in double figures, as UMass Lowell was undone by 24 turnovers.

The River Hawks' height helped the visitors jump out to a 35-26 halftime lead. UMass Lowell blocked six shots in the opening period, and held Saint Michael's to just 30 percent shooting in the first half (11-of-37).

UMass Lowell extended its lead to 12 points, 41-29, following a pair of Szidat free throws 2:07 into the second half. That's when Saint Michael's locked down defensively, as the Purple Knights held the River Hawks to just four points in the next seven minutes. UMass Lowell's dry spell helped the Purple Knights take their first lead since the opening minutes of the game, as Scott's 3-pointer with 10:45 left in the second half gave the hosts a 47-45 lead. UMass Lowell pulled even on its next possession, but Scott gave Saint Michael's the lead for good with another trifecta with 9:21 remaining.

Saint Michael's slowly pulled away from there, as the Purple Knights – the league's top free throw shooting team – made 17-of-23 from the line in the second half to keep the River Hawks at bay.

Both teams return to conference action on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., with Saint Michael's visiting nationally-ranked Bentley University, and UMass Lowell traveling to Stonehill College.

-PURPLEKNIGHTS-