MOUNT IDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
2018 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Quarterfinals
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Harold Alfond Center, Standish, Maine
FINAL: SAINT JOSEPH'S (MAINE) 83, MOUNT IDA 54
STANDISH, Maine -- Junior Kelsi McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) scored 26 points and dished out seven assists to lead top-seeded Saint Joseph's (Maine) to an 83-54 victory over eighth-seeded Mount Ida in quarterfinal round play of the 2018 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championships Tuesday evening at the Harold Alfond Center.
The host Monks (25-1), who extended their winning streak to 24 straight, advance to the GNAC semifinal round and will entertain fifth-seeded Albertus Magnus on Thursday evening at the Harold Alfond Center, as the Falcons advanced with a 51-49 triumph over fourth-seeded Regis in quarterfinal round play at Higgins Court in Weston, Mass. The visiting Mustangs, who earned their first post-season berth in six years and the ninth in the program's 19-year NCAA history, conclude their campaign at 13-13 overall.
Saint Joseph's used a pair of 8-0 first quarter runs to build a 26-12 advantage after the opening 10 minutes of play, and the Monks extended that margin to as much as 20 points in the second stanza and used a near-60 percent shooting effort from the field to take a 43-25 edge at the break. Two free throws by sophomore Valerie Martin (Derry, N.H.) enabled Mount Ida to cut its deficit back to 15 (52-37) three minutes after intermission, but the hosts scored 15 of the final 20 points of the third quarter to take a 25-point lead into the final frame and continued their torrid shooting pace to advance.
Junior Julia Champagne (Brunswick, Maine) added 22 points, six rebounds and three steals in the win for Saint Joseph's, which received 10 points and six boards from junior Emily Benway (Rochester, N.H.). Junior Hannah Marks (Waldoboro, Maine) chipped in with six points and five caroms for the Monks, who received five points and eight rebounds from senior Regan McFerran (Albany, N.Y.). Eleven of 13 players dressed for the contest scored at least one point for the hosts, who shot 57 percent (31-54) from the field overall and connected for seven three-pointers on the night. Saint Joseph's held a 43-22 rebounding advantage and outscored the visitors in the paint by a 44-10 margin.
Martin finished with 14 points and three assists in the setback for Mount Ida, which was playing its first GNAC quarterfinal outing since February 2012. Senior Imani Bumpus (Dedham, Mass.) added a double-double effort of 12 points, a game-high 10 rebounds, six steals and five assists for the Mustangs, who received eight points and three steals from fellow senior Jaime Moscato (Taunton, Mass.). Senior Patricia Liotta (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) connected for a pair of treys to finish with six points for the visitors, who received four points and two assists from senior Breanna Muir (Wareham, Mass.). Mount Ida shot 32 percent (19-58) from the field overall and canned eight three-pointers on the evening, as the Mustangs converted 24 Saint Joseph's turnovers into 17 points.