Rivier's Lyric Grumblatt, shown here earlier in the season, had a career high 41 points on Saturday to lead the Raiders to a win over Anna Maria. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

PAXTON, MA: The Rivier women’s basketball team took down GNAC opponent Anna Maria College Saturday in the Fuller Center thanks to Manchester’s career high 41 points to go along with 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Raiders (6-6, 2-3 GNAC) got out on top early and never trailed in the game. Rivier was off and running after the tip leading the AMCATS 19-7 after the first quarter. Grumblatt would lead the Raiders through one with nine points. While the AMCATS only saw Franny Hammond score through one. She would go on to score the first 14 points for her team before someone else was able to sink a basket.

The Second quarter saw Anna Maria find more of an offensive presence, scoring 19 points. However, Riv would put up 23 points of their own to see a 16 point lead going into the half. Grumblatt dropped 15 of the team’s 23 points in the second quarter. Hammond continued to lead the AMCATS with 11 more points in the second.

The third saw Rivier extend their lead to 20 points over the hosting team. Both teams struggled from the field, with Rivier shooting 22% and Anna Maria 38%. Marinique Reddin for the AMCATS picked up for her team, scoring eight in the third.

Anna Maria would shrink the 20 point deficit in the fourth while winning the fourth quarter 19-14. Hammond ended the contest with a career high 32 points and six rebounds.

Rivier women’s basketball will be back in action Tuesday against another GNAC opponent Colby-Sawyer. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm.

ANNA MARIA 89,RIVIER MEN 80 (OT)

The Raiders led this contest by as many as nine points in the first half. They led the AMCATS for 14:46 in the half before Anna Maria closed the gap to take a 42-38 lead into the locker room.

The first half was very evenly scored by both teams, with Rivier (5-8 overall, 1-5 GNAC) having eight athletes score and Anna Maria having ten. Hayden Braga led the AMCATS in the first half with 10 points, while Miles Gillette (Washington, DC) was on top for the Raiders with 12 points. He finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

Overall, the game saw 12 lead changes, most of which came in the second half. Pharaoh Davis (Plainville, MA) and Nikolas Pignone (Stoneham, MA) combined for 23 of the teams 34 points in the half. Davis tallied 11, with Pignone gathering 12 points. Pignone’s 12 points includes the game tying three to send it into overtime. Gabe Armstead kept the AMCATS ahead with 12 points of his own to stave off the Raiders from a regulation win.

Overtime was a continuation of the back-and-forth contest that it was in regulation until there was a 1:43 left. At that time, the AMCATS would explode out to their biggest lead of nine and ultimately win the game. Anna Maria’s run started with back-to-back Trevian Grenon three pointers. The AMCATS would hold on with solid defense and clutch free throw shooting.

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