BOSTON, Mass. - Emmanuel eased past Emerson, 77-55, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's hoop action on Saturday afternoon. Emmanuel's tandem of Meghan Kirwan (Melrose, Mass.) and Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) combined for 41 points in the win. The victory boosted the Saints to 12-4 on the season and Emmanuel remains unbeaten at 6-0 in GNAC play. The loss dropped Emerson to 6-11 overall and 3-2 in the league.
The cross-town rivalry was played in Emmanuel's Jean Yawkey Center and featured the Saints jumping out to a 12-2 lead in the early going, backed by six quick points from Kirwan. Backdoor cuts by the Saints hindered the Lions' defense, as Emerson trailed, 16-5, following a layup by Liz Daley (Sharon, Mass.) with 13:48 on the clock.
A bucket down low by sophomore guard Bria Tiro (Saugus, Mass.) gave the Saints a 20-8 lead at the ten-minute mark. A pair of free throws by Emerson's Olivia Dinucci (Pittsburgh, Pa.) brought the Lions into double-figures on their next possession.
A hoop by Kirwan and a long-range bomb from Breanna Ockimey (Philadelphia, Pa.) extended the Saints' margin to 29-12 nearing the five-minute mark. Emerson's junior guard Shannon Norton (Middletown, N.J.) pulled up on the break and drained a jumper from the elbow, as Emerson trailed, 29-17 with 4:09 left in the half.
The Lions knocked down 8 of 11 from the line in the first frame to keep within reach. An Emmanuel hoop by freshman guard Britni Mikulanecz (Portland, Me.) and a runner by Kirwan sent the Saints into the locker room at halftime with a 37-24 advantage.
Ten points apiece from Kirwan and O'Dwyer led all scorers at the break. Ockimey netted 7 points, while Mikulanecz dished out 6 first-half assists for the Saints.
Emerson was led by six points each from Olivia Connors (Windham, N.H.) and Kristin Brice (Indiana, Pa.). Emmanuel led Emerson on the glass, 22-18. The Saints forced the Lions into 14 first-half turnovers and scored 18 points off the Emerson errors.
Both clubs heated up to open the second half, combining for 22 points in the first four minutes, with Emmanuel owning a 50-33 lead. Dinucci hit a three from the top of the key, as Emerson trailed 54-38 with 13.26 left to play. An and-one by Connors brought the spread to 59-45 in favor of Emmanuel with 11:54 showing on the clock.
A hoop down low by O'Dwyer put Emmanuel up, 62-47 at the ten-minute mark. Three consecutive layups on the break by Kirwan stretched the Saints' lead to 21 points at 68-47 with 7:50 to play.
The hosts maintained their solid double-figure lead throughout and pulled away with the 77-55 win. Kirwan netted a game-high 21 points on 10 for 14 shooting to go along with her 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. O'Dwyer hit for 20 points and grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds, while Ockimey chipped in with 10 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. Mikulanecz finished with a game-high 7 assists in the win for the Saints.
Emerson was paced by a double-double effort of 15 points and 10 rebounds from Connors. Brice added 14 points and Dinucci hit for 8 in the effort for Emerson.
Emmanuel will return to action on Tuesday, January 24th, when the Saints travel to Medford, Mass. to take on the Jumbos of Tufts University in a non-conference battle, slated to begin at 7:00 PM.