Photo Courtesy: Bill DiLillo Photography
NASHUA, N.H. - On a night when the Daniel Webster College women's basketball team struggled from the field, the Eagles found a quick burst when it mattered most to avoid an upset and keep their perfect conference record intact.
After watching a 15-point lead whittled down to four by upset-minded Southern Vermont midway through the second half, the Eagles righted the ship with a game-turning 19-3 run and held on for a 74-62 victory over the Mountaineers in a New England Collegiate Conference matchup Tuesday night at Mario Vagge Gymnasium.
The win was the fourth straight for the Eagles, who improved to 14-4 overall. They also remained perfect in NECC, becoming the first women's basketball team in the brief history of the NECC to start a league schedule at 9-0.
Sophomore shooting guard Vanessa Bosques, the NECC's leading scorer, finished with a game high 20 points including five three-pointers and added a team high eight rebounds. Junior Joyce Chagan added 17 points including seven pivotal points during the Eagles late run that helped break the game open.
Alycia Gervais chipped in with eight points while Kacie Lang added seven points and seven rebounds.
Alyssa Davis led the Mountaineers (3-16, 2-9 NECC) with 17 points, while Joa Claircius notched 15 and Christie Henry pulled in a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 12 boards.
Now 10-1 over their last 11, the Eagles won despite shooting troubles through much of the contest but were aided by overwhelming SVC under the rim, finishing with 59 rebounds to SVC's 42.
Leading by 13 (43-30) with 15:32 left, the Eagles missed on six of their next seven attempts while Southern Vermont hit four of their next five.
A jumper from Henry, two from Claircius and a three from Davis whittled the lead to six with 13 minutes left and after another Eagle miss, Claircius buried a 10-footer to cap a 12-3 run and the lead had shrunk to 46-42 with 11:29 left.
But Bosques had an answer from outside with a three in the left corner and would then draw a foul and bury two helping to regain a 10-point lead.
Chagan added a big three from the right side for a 58-45 game and then headed to the races with two fast-break layups after two SVC misses. When the dust had cleared, the Eagles had posted a quick 19-3 run that pushed the lead up to 20 (65-45) with 7:06 left.
Southern Vermont mounted one last rally, whittling the lead back to 12 with a layup and two at the line from Henry. But Chagan answered again from outside for a 70-55 lead with 3:39 left and SVC pulled no closer than 10 down the stretch.
DWC shot 33-percent in the first half, but were aided by a Mountaineer club that managed just seven first half field goals and the Eagles held a 15-point lead at the break (37-22).
Southern Vermont returns home to face NECC foe Lesley Thursday at 7:00 p.m.