The Newbury College women's basketball team picked p their eighth victory of the season defeating Southern Vermont College, 54-37, in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action, Saturday afternoon. Senior center Catherine O'Connell (Quincy, Mass.) registered her eighth double-double of the season, 61st of her collegiate career, netting 10 points while ripping down 19 rebounds.
Southern Vermont kept O'Connell in check, offensively, in the first half keeping the Newbury center off the scoreboard as the Mountaineers jumped out to a quick, 8-2 advantage. However, sophomore center Jamie Vankoeverden (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was the spark off the bench for the Nighthawks, igniting a seven minute, 11-0 run knocking down a lay-up in the pain on a pass from first year point guard Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.). Newbury did not look back and took a five point, 22-17 lead into the break.
When the teams emerged from the locker rooms, the Nighthawks kept their foot on the accelerator. O'Connell continued to dominate the low-post ripping down 10 boards while registering three blocks and picking the pockets of the Mountaineers six times while atoning for her slow offensive first half. The South Shore native tied her career single-game high knocking down a perfect six-of-six from the charity stripe.
Midway through the half, sophomore guard Nephie Marsh (Brockton, Mass.) gave the Nighthawks their largest lead of the game, netting a lay-up in the paint to take a commanding 43-22 lead. The Mountaineers remained resilient and continued to battle their way back. First year forward Kala MacKenzie (Fair Haven, Vt.) netted four of her team-high eight points while classmate, forward Sarah McDonald (Cohoes, N.Y.) fell three points shy of a double-double tallying seven points with 10 boards. But it was not enough to surpass the Nighthawks, who outscore the Mountaineers, 32-20 in the second.
Newbury jumps back into second place with the victory, improving to 6-2 conference action and 8-7 overall while Southern Vermont falls to 3-5 in the NECC and 3-12 overall. The schedule does not get easier for the Nighthawks as they return to the hard-court on Tuesday January 22nd when they host undefeated Regis College at 7:00 p.m. The Mountaineers will also be in action on Tuesday when they travel to Chicopee, Mass. for a 6:00 p.m. tilt against Elms College.
Game Notes:
Sophomore center Jamie Vankoeverden (Brooklyn, N.Y.) registered an individual career single-game high 10 rebounds…Senior center Catherine O'Connell's (Quincy, Mass.) career single-game high seven steals puts her in a five-way tie for first amongst Newbury's all-time single-game steal leaders. It was the second time in as many games a Nighthawk registered seven steals. First year guard Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.) former guards Shayla White,Katelyn Mark, Chantal Coleman and Randi Hardiman registering seven in Thursday's 57-56 victory over Daniel Webster.