Basketball News Wire

Quincy, MA-1/11/2007- The Crusaders defeated the Gators tonight with a gritty effort that saw nearly 60 turnovers between the two teams.  The Crusaders senior captain Cristina Winchester (West Haven, CT) and freshman Victoria Sontag (Mont Vernon, NH) each scored 7 points in the first half to pace the Crusaders to a 27-20 lead going into the half.  But it was the duo’s second half efforts that sealed this nine point victory.  Winchester would add an additional 11 points while Sontag picked up 6 steals and 5 assists in the second stanza to withstand the Gator’s bite.

The Gator’s were constantly applying defensive pressure and attacking the paint on offense not allowing the Crusaders a moment to relax.  Gator’s junior Amanda Dennis (Haverhill, MA) scored to make it a four point game, 49-45, with less than two minutes to play, but Crusader’s Winchester responded with a bucket to withstand the Gator’s closest challenge to the lead

Eastern Nazarene’s Winchester led all scorer’s with 18 points while pulling in 7 rebounds.  Junior Amanda Remmel (Allentown, PA) scored 12 points as Sontag had 11 points, 7 steals, 2 blocks and 7 assists.  Sophomore Jessica Schoppee quietly had a double-double hitting for 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Pine Manor Sohomore Andrea Lavigne (Haverhill, MA) had 13 points followed by Amanda Dennis’ own double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Eastern Nazarene’s next game is Tuesday, December 4th against Rivier College at 7 PM home at the Lahue P.E. Center while Pine Manor hosts Colby College on Monday, December 4^th.