PAXTON, Mass. – The Anna Maria College women's basketball team led from wire-to-wire, defeating Pine Manor College by a score of 72-47 in non-conference action at The Fuller Activities Center on Wednesday night. The victory evens the AMCATS' record at 4-4, while the loss drops the Gators to 2-5 on the season.

Junior Samantha Ashton (Worcester, Mass.) and freshman Kayla Cummings (Auburn, Maine) led the charge for the AMCATS, combining for 48 points and 18 rebounds. Ashton scored a game-high 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting, adding nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Cummings compiled 18 points, knocking down 8-of-11 from the field, grabbing nine boards, and sinking two treys. Senior Emily Nugent (Worcester, Mass.) also finished in double figures (10 points), while sophomore Chelsea Blair (Holland, Mass.) contributed eight points, eight boards, three steals, and two blocks in the win.

Junior Therline Dumeran (Cambridge, Mass.) did her best to keep the Gators in the game, earning a triple-double with a monster line of 14 points, 17 rebounds, 11 blocks, and five steals. Junior Yiafia Dowridge (White Plains, N.Y.), sophomore Tia Nelson (Rockport, Mass.), and junior Phibe Pham ((South Boston, Mass.) also played well for Pine Manor, as each contributed nine points in the loss.

The AMCATS built a 21-point lead by the end of the first half as Cummings capped the period with a three-pointer at the buzzer. Anna Maria connected on 45.9% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc during the period and held decisive advantages in second chance points (16-8), points off of turnovers (14-2), and points in the paint (18-4), while also out-rebounding the Gators 30-19.  

The Gators came out strong in the second half, exploding for a 22-12 run over the opening 12:00 minutes of the period to cut the AMC lead to just 11 points with eight minutes remaining.

However, the AMCATS tightened up their defense and held the Gators to just four points the rest of the way, closing out the game on an 18-4 run to seal the 72-47 victory.

The Gators return to the court on Saturday to face Maine-Fort Kent on the road, while the AMCATS travel to battle cross-town rival Becker College on Thursday at 6:00 pm.