MANCHESTER, N.H. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team lost a 57-55 Northeast-10 Conference decision to regionally-ranked Saint Anselm College on Wednesday in Stoutenburgh Gymnasium. The Purple Knights received votes toward this week's D2 CSC East Region poll, while the Hawks were tied for 10th.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (3-3, 0-2 NE10), Saint Anselm (3-1, 2-0 NE10)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Senior Brianna Furch (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood School/Cal State Fullerton), 21 points (career high), 4 steals
• Sophomore Amber Furch (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood School), 12 points, 5 steals, 6-for-7 free throws
• Sophomore Jayla Tyler (Albany, N.Y./Colonie Central/Saint Rose), 7 points, 10 rebounds, 5 offensive rebounds, 2 steals, 3-for-6 field goals
• Sophomore Ruby Santos (New Paltz, N.Y./Kent School), 9 rebounds, 3 offensive rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
• Sophomore Bella Franchi (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central), 7 rebounds, 2 steals

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Senior Melanie Hoyt, 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 8-for-13 field goals
• Sophomore Elise MacNair, 12 points

THE ACTION

• Five points from Brianna Furch and another three from Amber Furch staked the Purple Knights to an 8-2 lead at 5:59 of the first quarter, and Brianna Furch's jumper at 1:08 later broke a 12-all tie, giving her team an advantage it held until late in the half.
• Hoyt's lay-in provided Saint Anselm a 24-22 edge at 2:15 of the second period, but first-year Margaret Montplaisir (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth) countered with a go-ahead three-pointer 11 seconds later.
• Consecutive baskets by the Furch sisters pushed the lead to a game-high 37-27 at 6:59 of the third stanza.
• Brianna Furch's driving lay-up still had Saint Michael's in front by six, 54-48, with 2:45 left in regulation.
• First-year Addisen Sulikowski drilled a three at 1:30 to bring her team within one, and Hoyt's jumper 21 seconds later made it 55-54 in the Hawks' favor. MacNair made a free throw at 11 seconds to cap an 8-0 run.
• Franchi knocked down one freebie with six ticks left before Hoyt made one a second later, and Saint Anselm led 57-55.
• The Purple Knights missed a three just before the buzzer, and Santos grabbed the rebound before sending a last-second putback in, but the officials determined the shot was released before the horn sounded.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Tuesday at regionally-ranked Southern New Hampshire University, 5:30 p.m.
• The Penmen were ninth in this week's D2 CSC East Region poll.