NASHUA, N.H. -- In a matchup of two of the better teams in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) at defending the three-pointer, Mount Ida saw Rivier shoot 13-25 from downtown en route to an 87-49 victory in women's basketball on Thursday night at Muldoon Gymnasium.
The Mustangs were allowing opponents to shoot just 27.5% from long-distance this season, but the Raiders fired 52%, to go with a 47.6% performance from the field, while winning their fifth GNAC game in as many tries.
Mount Ida (3-14, 0-3 GNAC) was led by 13 points and 8 rebounds from freshman Angelique Martinez (Taunton, Mass.), while freshman Stephanie Champoux (Tewksbury, Mass.) added ten points.
Rivier (15-3) was led by senior AJ Guidi (Derry, N.H.) who drained 7 three-pointers on her way to 25 total points. Junior Deanna Purcell (Hudson, N.H.) added 16 points and senior Erin Sweeney (Chicopee, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points in the win.
Senior Jaclyn Penniman (Dudley, MA) collected a team high 9 rebounds to go along with her 9 points for the Raiders.
Guidi and Purcell hit three-pointers to break a 4-4 tie early in the game, and the Raiders never looked back, extending their lead to 20-9, and then using a 17-0 run to make it a 37-13 advantage with just under three minutes left in the first half.
Champoux hit a jumper and Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.) made a three-pointer to pull the deficit back to 39-18 at the half. Mount Ida got within 17 points early in the second half, but Penniman, Purcell and Guidi hit consecutive three-pointers, and the Raiders had the lead back up to 29 points by the middle of the second half.
Fedigan, who hit Mount Ida's only three-pointer (1-for-9) poured in nine points, as did freshman Brittany Crosby (Riverside, R.I.) off the bench. Freshman Katlyn Jesse (Marshfield, Mass.) led all players with five assists.
Martinez stuffed the stat sheet with two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Both teams will remain in GNAC action for their next scheduled contests on Saturday afternoon. Mount Ida will be on the road as they make the trip to Hartford, Connecticut for a 1:00 pm tipoff with the University of Saint Joseph.
Rivier will also leave their home gym, making the 2 ½ hour ride up to Northfield, Vermont for a 1:00 pm date with Norwich.