PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Theodores '25

NASHUA, N.H. – Sophomore forward Grace Ramsdell (Wells, Maine) scored 32 points with 14 rebounds – both career-highs – to help Saint Joseph's College (12-7, 9-0 GNAC) hold off Rivier University (7-13, 5-5 GNAC), 78-61, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's basketball action on Tuesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Saint Joseph's only trailed in the opening minutes and held the lead for good after posting an 11-4 run late in the first quarter, which was closed out with a Nina Howe (York, Maine) free throw and the visitors on top by a 17-9 margin at the 1:23 mark of the first frame.

A fast break layup from junior Mackenzie Currie (Merrimac, Mass.) lifted the Monks to a 14-point (32-18) lead with 2:56 before the break, but the Raiders countered with eight unanswered points to cut their deficit to seven (35-28) going into intermission.

Rivier made it a five-point game early in the third period, but Ramsdell netted seven points during a 9-0 surge to extend the SJC advantage to 46-32 with 6:19 remaining in the penultimate quarter. The Monks maintained a double-digit lead until midway through the fourth when the Raiders momentarily made it an eight point game, but Saint Joseph's collectively shot 14-of-15 from the charity stripe during the final frame to stave off the hosts' comeback bid.

STATS OF THE GAME:

Saint Joseph's was 26-for-29 from the FT line, the most freebies the Monks have made in a game since hitting on 26-of-30 bids from the stripe in a win at Rivier on January 13th, 2018…St. Joe's netted 19 points on 18 Rivier turnovers and held the lead in points in the paint (34-24), fast break points (11-1), and bench points (24-2) in the victory.

LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:

• Ramsdell was 13-for-22 from the field and 5-for-5 from the FT line with 32 points and 14 rebounds
• Senior guard Hailey Anderson (Beverly, Mass.) came off the bench to score 16 points with two rebounds and a pair of assists
• Senior guard Angelica Hurley (Groveland, Mass.) added nine points, seven rebounds, and four assists

LEADERS – RIVIER:

• Lyric Grumblatt scored 26 points with six boards, three assists, and four steals
• Alexa Dufries added 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals
• Rachel Guinn chipped in with nine points and 11 rebounds
• Anna Stenger contributed nine points and eight caroms

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

With the win Saint Joseph's improves to 23-5 in the history of the series with Rivier University and has now defeated the Raiders in 11-consecutive meetings dating back to the 2016-17 campaign.

NEXT!

Saint Joseph's will host GNAC-rival Lasell University on Saturday at 1:00 PM.

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