MANCHESTER, N.H. – Southern Connecticut women's basketball defeated Saint Anselm, 63-55, in an NE10 matchup on Monday afternoon, for their fifth straight victory. The Hawks dropped to an overall record of 8-4 and an NE10 record of 3-4 while the Owls improved to an overall record of 11-4 and an NE10 record of 6-1.
Rheyna Steinauer led the Owls with 16 points, grabbed five boards and had a team-best of four assists.
Taeya Steinauer had 14 points, was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line and grabbed five boards.
Hope Fox had 12 points, was a team-best of 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and grabbed four rebounds.
Tish Blackwood had her fourth straight double-double with 10 points and a team-best of 11 boards.
Ally Sentance had seven points, was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, recorded four boards and had a team-best of two steals.
Arianna Gerkin added four points, was 2-for-2 from the free-throw line and had four boards.
Jillian Martin had a team-best of four assists and two steals against the Hawks.
In the first quarter, both the Hawks and Owls' defenses battled hard against one another. Saint Anselm worked to 4-0 lead, but
Taeya Steinauer responded quickly with back-to-back made baskets, to take a 5-4 lead.
Rheyna Steinauer added four points for the Owls; however, the Hawks tied the game then retook the lead.
Taeya Steinauer hit a made three-pointer, to tie the game up at 12-12, before Saint Anselm took the lead then
Tish Blackwood made a good jumper, to set a 14-14 scoreline, heading into the second.
In the second quarter,
Ally Sentance and
Rheyna Steinauer led the Owls to a 7-0 run, in the first few minutes of play as they extended their lead to 21-14. The Hawks began to knock down shots while
Hope Fox hit a made jumper, to keep Southern in control. Yet again, defense came up big for both teams as time ticked down.
Rheyna Steinauer scored five points to end the quarter for the Owls, as they headed into halftime, up 28-21.
In the third quarter, Saint Anselm went on a 4-0 run early on until
Tish Blackwood hit two free-throws and a made jumper, to put the Owls up, 32-26. Many of the points for both teams came from the free-throw line as
Hope Fox made two as well. The Hawks looked to be in reach of the Owls, but Fox hit a jumper, to extend their lead back to five.
Taeya Steinauer made a layup with less than a minute before Saint Anselm made a layup and two free-throws with Southern leading 40-37, going into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Hawks got within one point of the Owls, but
Tish Blackwood and
Rheyna Steinauer kept the Owls' lead, early on. Made free-throws and a good layup by
Arianna Gerkin allowed Southern to hold a five point lead. Saint Anselm continued to make shots as they looked to take the lead; however,
Rheyna Steinauer, Fox and Blackwood made big baskets to keep the advantage in their favor. With a minute left, huge defensive plays by
Ally Sentance and
Jillian Martin and key made free-throws by Sentance, Fox and
Taeya Steinauer, helped Southern Connecticut get the 63-55 victory over Saint Anselm.
Southern will return home to the Moore Field House on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in an NE10 matchup at 5:30 pm against Adelphi.
