SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Junior forward Amber Legare posted a single-game record 26 rebounds, while adding 20 points to help lift Mount Holyoke College past Emerson College, 68-60 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday. With the win, the Lyons snap a four-game skid and improve to 6-17 overall and 3-15 in conference play, while Emerson slips to 8-15 and 4-14 in the NEWMAC.
Legare's (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comprehensive) 26 rebounds eclipsed the MHC single-game record of 25, set by Elise Cromack during the 1985-86 season. Coupled with her 20 points (16 in the second half), it marked Legare's 13th double-double of the season. Additionally, she added an assist, three blocks and a steal toward the MHC victory.
Also performing strong for the Lyons was junior captain Kate Karraker (Morgantown, W.V./Taft School (Conn.), who nearly surpassed her own personal-best with a game-high 24 points, including 16 points in the opening half. Her career-best (25) coming last season against Springfield.
After a back-and-forth first half, which saw Emerson holding a 39-32 victory at the intermission, Mount Holyoke came out ready for a comeback. It was a slow start as the visiting Lions pushed their lead back to nine (43-34) on a solid three-pointer from junior Catherine Cloutier (Methuen, Mass./Londonderry).
Emerson pushed it up as high as 12 points (48-36) after a layup from junior forward Kristin Brice (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area Senior), but MHC began to mount a comeback as it slowly chipped away at the double-digit advantage. Back-to-back jumpers from sophomore Genelle Green (Windsor, Conn./Miss Porter's School) and senior Kathleen O'Connor (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) cut the deficit down to 48-41 with 11:58 remaining.
A layup from first year Emily Cameron (Culver City, Calif./University) made it a seven-point margin once again for Emerson, but a three-pointer from Karraker cut it to 50-46 with 10:03 on the clock. Emerson continued to hold a slim margin, but a layup from Legare moved the Lyons within two (52-50) and MHC took its first lead of the game at the 6:14 mark after Green sank a free throw and Legare added a layup for the 53-52 advantage.
Emerson tied it up on a free throw from Brice, but shots from the line by junior Nicole DeMarchena (Miami, Fla./Amherst Regional (Mass.) and another layup from Legare made it a 59-53 lead for the home team with 5:12 to play in the contest.
Mount Holyoke continued to keep up the pressure over the final five, taking advantage of several fouls and missed buckets to open up a nine-point (62-53) lead. Emerson refused to quite late as Brice, who poured in a team-high 23 points, drained a jumper to make it a six-point game, but a layup from Green and four free throw makes from Legare down the stretch sealed the victory for the Lyons.
In addition to Legare and Karraker, MHC also saw DeMarchena post seven points, 10 rebounds and a game-best five blocks. Green chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds, while senior Jennine Vizcaino (New York, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.) had six point and a game-best four assists.
For Emerson, which shot 55.6% (5-of-9) from the three-point line in the opening half, Brice added a team-high nine rebounds to go along with two assists, a block and two steals. She opened the first half with 14 points. Senior Elissa Chojnicki (Dover, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas) had 10 points, while Cloutier chipped in with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Lions finished with a 50.0% (6-of-12) for the game from three-point range.
Mount Holyoke closes out its home season on Wednesday in a 7pm game against Springfield at the Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium. The Lyons will honor their four seniors in a pre-game ceremony. Emerson is also in action on Wednesday, traveling to Clark for a 7pm tilt.
Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography.
