Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield College women's basketball team posted a 72-31 victory over New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Mount Holyoke on Wednesday evening in Blake Arena. With the win, the Pride picked up its second-straight conference victory, as it improves to 4-2 overall, and 2-0 in league play.
The Pride, which was led by a combination of double-digit scoring performances by senior forward Emily Gins (Fort Myers, Fla.) and a 10-point, nine-rebound effort from freshman Gracie Restituyo (Jersey City, N.J.), scored a season-best 72 points, as it shot 28-for-68 (41.2%) from the floor.
Mount Holyoke, which fell to 0-7 overall and 0-2 in conference with the loss, was led by Genelle Green (Windsor, Conn.), who posted a team-best nine points to go along with four rebounds over 34 minutes of play. Junior guard Xajaah Williams-Flores (The Bronx, N.Y.) added eight points and four boards, while senior Siyao Sui (ShenZhen, China) had six points with five rebounds.
Springfield jumped out to an early 12-2 lead following a lay-up from Gins, but the Lyons would quickly pull back to within four following a jumper from Williams-Flores to make it 14-10, Springfield, with 1:49 left in the period. The Pride would then get back-to-back points from junior center Ava Adamopoulos (Ludlow, Mass.) and junior guard Danielle Racette (North Adams, Mass.) to give the hosts an 18-12 lead at the end of one.
Springfield then went on a 16-0 run in the second quarter, incluidng all seven of freshman Chelsea McAllister's (Springfield, Vt.) points, consisting of a three-pointer and a left-handed floater to take a commanding 34-13 lead over the Lyons, before Green converted a free-throw to make it 34-13, Springfield, at the half.
The Pride continued to pour it on in the second half, as Gins would put Springfield up 48-21 midway through the third quarter with a pair of free-throws, before Restituyo and sophomore guard Carli Brent (Wilmington, Mass.) combined for eight points, giving the Pride a 59-22 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Up 62-22 following a three-point play by sophomore guard Georgia Ford (Scarborough, Maine) with 7:58 remaining in the game, the Pride closed out the contest behind from solid play by first year Sam Spadaro (Staten Island, N.Y.), sophomore guard Christa Brent (Wilmington, Mass.) and Restituyo to escape with the 41-point win.
Next, Springfield will travel to WPI to take on Worcester State on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Mount Holyoke returns to action on Saturday in a 2pm NEWMAC game at Wellesley.
Release courtesy of Jon Santer, Springfield Athletic Communications.
