Lions Top Garnet in Seven Sisters Championship Game
OFFICIAL SEVEN SISTERS CHAMPIONSHIP RELEASE
GAME BOX SCORE
HAVERFORD, Pa. - All-Tournament selection Joeanna Silvey had a game-high 20 points as Mount Holyoke (6-1) defeated Swarthmore 71-50 to win its fourth straight Seven Sisters Championship in Gooding Arena Sunday afternoon.
Garnet sophomore guard Melissa Grigsby led Swarthmore (3-4) with 13 points while All-Tournament selection Karen Berk '08 added 11 points.
Holyoke freshman post Jessica Olson contributed 15 points and a tournament-high 19 rebounds while Lions senior guard Angela Astuccio scored nine points. Astuccio was named Tournament MVP after Silver contributed a strong all around performance with eight steals, seven assists, and seven rebounds in 36 minutes of action.
Mount Holyoke led the entire way, opening a 7-3 advantage after Silvey converted a steal and fast-break layup at 16:25. Grigsby followed with her second jumper of the afternoon at 14:35 to cut it to 7-5. The Lions got a three-pointer from Silvey after an offensive rebound at 13:44 forcing Swarthmore to take its first time-out of the game. The MHC senior found Astuccio cutting down the lane for a 16-5 lead. Berk ended the run with a pair of free throws at 12:10 and Grigsby brought Swarthmore within 18-10 at 10:07 by nailing a three-pointer from the left wing.
The Mount Holyoke lead grew to as much as nineteen (39-20) with 1:20 left in the half - Swarthmore freshman guard Lisa Schumacher sank fade-away jumper at the buzzer to make the halftime score 40-24.
The Lions were in control the entire half, hitting 45.5% from the field, forcing 11 Swarthmore turnovers while holding a 25-14 lead on the boards.
Silvey led all scorers at the intermission with 11 points to go along with four assists and four steals - Olson chipped eight points and 10 rebounds. Grigsby led the Garnet with nine points while Berk added seven points.
The Lions pushed the lead to 46-26 at the start of the half after freshman Erin Cain sank a three-pointer from the right corner at 15:19.
Grigsby brought the Garnet within 53-38 at 11:11 with a long jumper off a ball screen from Fuhr. The Lions came back with a 12-7 run, building a 65-45 lead when Berk fouled out at the 5:24 mark.
Holyoke shot 42% for the game and out-rebounded Swarthmore 45-29.
The Garnet resume Centennial Conference action on Tues., Dec. 5 in Allentown, Pa., facing defending Centennial Champion Muhlenberg at 7:00 p.m.