BRONX, NY – The top-ranked Amherst College women's basketball team used a complete team effort to earn a 101-60 victory over Lehman College Saturday evening at Apex Arena. The Lord Jeffs improve to 10-0, while the Lightning drops to 5-4.
The Amherst-Lehman matchup was the fourth and final game of the CUNYAC's Third Annual Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Amherst's Shannon Finucane '12 (Cortland, NY) was named the event's Most Valuable Player after scoring a team-high 18 points in only 20 minutes against the Lightning. All ticket proceeds from the day's games will benefit the American Cancer Society as it searches for a cure for cancer.
Finucane was one of five Lord Jeffs to finish in double figures, as each of the 13 players who dressed scored at least two points. Each Amherst player saw at least 10 minutes of action, but none played for more than 20 minutes.
The Jeffs carried a 59-23 lead into the break, marking their highest first-half point total since a win over NYCCT on Nov. 15, 2008. They led Lehman by as many as 49 in the second half en route to their first 100-point effort of the season.
Finucane used a 5-for-8 performance from long range to lead Amherst in scoring, while Kristyn Dunleavy '11 (East Setauket, NY) and Kim Fiorentino '12 (Holmdel, NJ) each went 3-for-3 from behind the arc to finish with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Jaci Daigneault '11 (Guilford, CT) added 12 points and Bridget Crowley '13 (Hampden, MA) chipped in with 10 to round out the Amherst players in double figures.
Amherst held a 57-28 rebounding edge, with Lem Atanga McCormick '12 (Chicago, IL) leading her team with nine boards to go along with eight points and a career-high five assists. Livia Rizzo '12 (Dover, MA) set a new career best with her seven rebounds, while co-captain Sarah Leyman '11 (Cincinnati, OH) added seven boards of her own.
Lehman struck first on a layup by Amanda De La Cruz, but Daigneault would score the game's next four points and the visitors never relinquished the lead. De La Cruz finished with 18 points, but it was Louvinia Hayes who led all players with 21 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and five steals. Paula Robinson added 14 points for the Lightning.
The game was never in doubt for the Jeffs, who held a 41-9 advantage with seven minutes to play in the opening half. Their lead never dipped below 30 in the remainder of the period and never fell below 36 in the second half.
The Lord Jeffs will return to action Tuesday, Dec. 14, when they host Springfield College at 7 p.m. A live webcast and live statistics will be available.
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