PURPLE KNIGHT WOMEN EARN 69-48 NON-LEAGUE WIN VERSUS CHESTNUT HILL

SMC wins second straight contest, stays perfect at home, improves to 3-2 on the season

COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College women's basketball team (3-2) recorded its second straight win on Saturday afternoon, besting Chestnut Hill College, 69-48, in non-conference action at the Vincent C. Ross Sports Center.

For the Purple Knights, junior Coreen Hennessy (Chatham, N.H./Fryeburg Academy) tallied a career-high 19 points, draining 11-of-12 free throws, while senior Logan Pintka (Schenectady, N.Y./Colonie Central) added 10 points and six rebounds. Junior Caitlin Quinn (Oakdale, Conn./Montville) also scored 10 points, all in the second half, while sophomore Nicole Adach (Schenectady, N.Y./Mohonasen) chipped in with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds. Senior Marilyn Ferriera (New London, N.H./Kearsarge Regional) contributed a game-high six assists and five steals in the victory, the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

For Chestnut Hill (2-4), an NCAA Division II school out of Philadelphia, Pa., and a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, sophomore Latoya Laing (Snellville, Ga.) was the lone player to scored in double figures, with 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Junior Ebony Washington (Philadelphia, Pa.) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the Griffins, who shot just 27 percent from the field in the contest, including 24 percent in the second half.

Saint Michael's pulled ahead of Chestnut Hill late in the first half, as the Purple Knights took advantage of many free throw opportunities to end the half on a 16-5 run. Saint Michael's buried 17-of-21 free throws in the opening period (compared to just 2-of-6 free throw shooting for the Griffins), the main reason for the Purple Knights' 38-24 halftime advantage.

Chestnut Hill pulled to within 11 points early in the second half, but was undone by poor shooting from the field. Saint Michael's took advantage, and went on a 20-4 run to open up a game-high 27 point led, 63-36, with seven minutes remaining.

Saint Michael's finished 23-of-28 from the foul line, and committed just 15 turnovers to 22 for Chestnut Hill.

Saint Michael's returns to Northeast-10 Conference action on Tuesday, as the Purple Knights host their final game of the month with a 5:30 p.m. contest versus Saint Anselm College. Chestnut Hill also returns to action on Tuesday, hosting Philadelphia University at 6 p.m.