Box Score

BOSTON - The Emmanuel College women's basketball team handed Norwich University its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss of the season, 62-61, at the Jean Yawkey Center on Saturday afternoon. 

The Saints (13-4, 4-1 GNAC) overcame a nine-point second-half deficit to come away with the one-point victory. Emmanuel got 17 points from Breanna Ockimey and 16 points and eight assists from Casey Shevlin

The Cadets (12-5, 4-1 GNAC) scored on their second possession of the game and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a jumper by junior F Christine Daniels. A pair of free throws by Abby Brenkach quickly tied things up, before a lay-up by Brenkach gave the Saints a lead they would hold on to for the majority of the half. 

The Saints went up by as many as 11 points (20-9) on a bucket by Jade Santos with 11:37 on the clock.  A three-pointer by senior G Ally Daniels sparked an 11-2 Norwich run. The Cadets cut the deficit to four points (22-18) on a jumper in the paint by Ally Daniels. A baseline jumper by senior G Erica Rate made it a two-point game (22-20) with 6:29 left in the half.

Emmanuel brought it back to a four-point spread at 24-20 on a bucket in the key by Iman Davis, but a three-pointer from the right wing by Rate cut the Emmanuel lead to one, 24-23. An EC foul on the break sent senior/junior F Laurel McWilliams to the line, and she made a pair of freebies to give the Cadets the lead at 25-24 with three minutes left to play in the half.

Emmanuel ended the half on an 8-0 run to take a 32-25 advantage into halftime.

Norwich began the second half on a 9-0 spurt to take a 34-32 lead. Shevlin then hit a three-pointer to ignite a 9-4 run that gave Emmanuel a 44-38 edge.

Rate managed to tie things up again at 46-all on a long trifecta. A three-ball by Ally Daniels on the Cadets' next possession capped an 11-2 Norwich run and gave the visitors a 49-46 lead, forcing a timeout by the Saints.

A jumper by Ally Daniels and another trey by Rate gave the Cadets their largest lead of the game, 57-48, with six minutes remaining. Threes by Ockimey and Shevlin helped Emmanuel trim its deficit to 59-54 with just under four minutes to play.

Another long-range shot by Ockimey made it 60-57, and the momentum had clearly shifted to the Saints. Ockimey stole the ball on NU's next possession and went the length of the court before being fouled. She made one of two from the line and EC cut the margin to two, 60-58, with just under two minutes left.

Senior G Natalie Marchese hit one of two from the stripe with 1:19 left, and Norwich would not score again. Another huge jumper by Ockimey brought the Saints to within one point at 61-60 with 1:02 on the clock.

Norwich was then whistled for traveling and Emmanuel regained possession with 46 ticks left and a chance for the win. Ockimey misfired from the left side, but Davis grabbed a huge rebound and scored on the put-back, giving Emmanuel the 62-61 lead.

The Cadets had two final looks, but could not connect and Emmanuel hung on for the win.

Ockimey and Shevlin combined for 20 of the Saints' 30 second-half points. Davis played a solid game for Emmanuel, scoring 10 points, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds and dishing out six assists.

Ally Daniels led a trio of Norwich players scoring in double figures, dropping 16 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Christine Daniels hit for 13 points, while Rate netted 12 points and dished out five assists. Senior F Jess Jaggars finished with nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Norwich will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 30, when the Cadets travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass., to battle GNAC foe Pine Manor College at 12 p.m.