BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel Saints captured a 79-47 victory over the visiting Vikings of Salem State University in a non-conference rivalry played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Saturday night. The win boosted the Saints' record to 10-7 on the season, while the Vikings dropped to 3-12 overall. In the twenty-four meetings between these two programs, Salem State leads the series, 15-9.
The head coaches from these two perennial New England powerhouses are two of the all-time winningest coaches in Division III women's basketball, with Coach Yosinoff and Coach Shea combining for close to 1,300 wins in 64 years of coaching experience.
The contest featured the Saints charging out to a 12-0 lead, courtesy of back-to-back trifectas from Kristin LeBel (Tolland, Conn.). Salem found the scoreboard, knocking down a free throw at the seventeen-minute mark, but LeBel immediately drained another trey as Emmanuel went up 15-1 in the early going. LeBel hit for 13 of the Saints' 17 points in the first four minutes of play.
The Saints trapping pressure defense flustered the visiting Vikings and Salem was held scoreless from the floor for the opening nine minutes. Junior center Ginny Flemming (Peabody, Mass.) ended Salem's drought on a post move down low, as the Saints led 28-3 with eleven minutes remaining in the half.
Emmanuel continued to overpower Salem, as the Saints received strong minutes from freshman center Victoria Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.) and junior guard Breanna Ockimey (Philadelphia, Pa.), as the duo combined for 20 points in the first half. The Saints took a thirty-point lead (41-11) on a bucket in the paint by Johnson with five minutes left in the half.
The Saints carried a 31 lead into the break at halftime, 52-19. Emmanuel shot very well from the floor (50%), knocking down 21 of 42 field goal attempts in the opening frame. LeBel and Johnson each tallied 13 points to lead all scorers at the break.
The second half proved to be more of the same with LeBel opening the half with yet another three-ball on the Saints' first possession. Senior forward Pamela Mobley (Worcester, Mass.) returned to action in the second half for the Saints, after being sidelined since November with an injury. Without skipping a beat, Mobley knocked down a hoop on her first touch and then blocked a shot on Salem's next possession.
Emmanuel carried a solid double-figure lead throughout the game and pulled away with the 79-47 win. LeBel led all scorers with 18 points on 7 for 9 shooting. Johnson finished with her 13 first half points to go along with 5 rebounds. Freshman forward Liz Daley (Sharon, Mass.) chipped in with 7 points and a game-high 9 rebounds for the Saints. Junior guard Meghan Kirwan (Melrose, Mass.) dished out a game-high 7 assists in the win and senior guard Carla Andre (Medford, Mass.) added 9 points and 3 assists for Emmanuel.
Sophomore guard Madeleine Park (Blue Hill, Me.) led the Vikings with 12 points and 3 assists. Classmate Sandra Lanier (Groton, Mass.) chipped in with 9 points in the effort for Salem.
Emmanuel will travel to Standish, Maine on Monday night for a GNAC women's and men's basketball double-header. The Saints will take on the Monks of Saint Joseph's College at 5:30pm.