MANCHESTER, N.H. – Three players finished in double figures as Saint Anselm College downed Southern New Hampshire University 54-43 in Northeast-10 women's basketball Wednesday night at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.  The Hawks improve to 3-0 and 1-0 in the league with the victory, while the Penmen now stand 2-1 and 0-1 in NE-10 play.

Kaila Duarte led Saint Anselm with 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Aliyah Smith finished with 11 points.  Raquel Johnson added 10 points and 10 board for the Hawks.

Victoria Wiseman (Montreal, Quebec) and Lorreta Rocha (Espargos, Cape Verde) led the Penmen with 10 points apiece off the bench.  Each finished with five rebounds, while Rocha handed out three assists.  Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) added seven points.

Saint Anselm never trailed, scoring the game's first nine points and opening up an 18-9 lead 7:48 before intermission on a Duarte basket.  The Penmen stormed back with an 11-2 run, and a Ryan three at the 3:02 mark tied the game 20-20, however, the Hawks reclaimed the lead and went into the locker room up 27-22.

The hosts threatened to put the game away after the break, scoring the first 11 points of the second half to build a 38-22 lead.  Southern New Hampshire was able to cut the lead to 10 three times, the last on a Rocha basket with 8:10 to go that made it 49-39, but the Penmen were able to get no closer.

The Hawks, who held a 45-43 rebounding advantage, shot just 32.8%, but limited the Penmen to 29.3% shooting for the contest.  Saint Anselm connected on five of their 21 three-point attempts, with SNHU 2-12 behind the arc, and the hosts held a 14-2 advantage in fast break points.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday afternoon when it travels to Saint Michael's College for a 1:30 Northeast-10 contest.

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