COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team earned its largest margin of victory ever in a Northeast 10 Conference game on Tuesday, downing Franklin Pierce University, 97-41, in the Ross Sports Center. With four regular-season games left, the Purple Knights are in a four-way tie for fifth place in the NE10.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (11-11, 6-8 NE10), Franklin Pierce (2-20, 1-13 NE10)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Sophomore Margaret Montplaisir (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth), 31 points, 10-for-13 field goals, 6-for-9 three-pointers, 5-for-5 free throws
• Junior Jayla Tyler (Albany, N.Y./Colonie Central/Saint Rose), 18 points, 7 rebounds (4 offensive), 6-for-11 field goals, 6-for-6 free throws
• First-year Jasmine Becotte (Pelham, N.H./Lawrence Academy), 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5-for-8 field goals, 3-for-3 three-pointers
• Junior Amber Furch (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood School), 12 points, 5 assists, 5 steals, 4 rebounds, 5-for-10 field goals
• Senior Molly Brophy (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich Central School), 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 4-for-7 field goals
• Sophomore Hannah Polumbo (Milton, N.Y./Marlboro), 5 points
• Junior Ruby Santos (New Paltz, N.Y./Kent School), 5 rebounds (3 offensive), 4 assists, 3 steals
• Junior Ashlee Talbot (Dracut, Mass./Dracut), 3 assists
• Junior Bella Franchi (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central), 3 assists

OPPONENT LEADERS

• First-year Hijjah Allen-Paisley, 7 points
• First-year Emily Mennillo, 6 points, 4 assists, 3 steals

GAME FACTS

• Montplaisir scored at least 30 points for the second time this year, hitting at least 25 for the fourth time, and second time in three games. She came within five points of Kathy O'Neil's '81 school record of 36, set on Dec. 6, 1980.
• The Purple Knights had last scored as many as 97 points in an NE10 game during a 99-78 win over Stonehill College on Jan. 12, 2002.
• The Purple Knights held a 46-26 rebounding lead while forcing 20 turnovers and committing only 11.
• Saint Michael's shot 11-of-19 from three-point range (57.9%) and 54.7% overall to Franklin Pierce's 3-of-24 effort from deep (12.5%) and 29.8% overall shooting.

THE ACTION

• Down 7-5, the Purple Knights took command with an 11-0 run, with Montplaisir (5) and Talbot (4) leading four scorers.
• After sophomore Natalie Beaudoin's three-pointer drew Franklin Pierce within 18-12 at 2:33 of the first quarter, Saint Michael's pulled away with another 11-0 run, with Tyler scoring six of the points. A 13-0 run later pushed the lead to 46-16 on Montplaisir's triple at 4:03, and another Montplaisir trey with 2:53 to go extended the advantage to a half-high 51-18.
• The hosts shot 60.6% in the opening half, held a 21-8 rebounding advantage, and committed only two fouls to the Ravens' 11.
• The Purple Knights added 43 second-half points to the visitors' 17, with the final score the largest margin.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Saturday vs. Pace University, 1:30 p.m.
• The Purple Knights celebrate Senior Day that day.