Women's Basketball storms past Penn State-Behrend

(Daytona Beach, Florida) Junior Deanna Purcell knocks down 23 points as the Rivier University Women's Basketball team defeats Penn State-Behrend 69-51 this afternoon at the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Hudson, New Hampshire native was 10-for-13 from the floor while collecting 6 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists in the Raiders' sixth win of the season.

Purcell had help from both freshman Savannah Butterfield (Londonderry, NH) and classmate Danielle Martin (Haverhill, MA) who contributed with 8 points off the bench. Senior Ryan Baker (Whitinsville, MA) also added 7 points in her 20 minutes of action while senior Brittany Lane (Waterford, VT) made her first start of the season and recorded 6 points.

The game was all Rivier from the beginning as they held a 38-15 lead when the halftime horn sounded. The Raiders were actually outscored in the second half 36-31 but was still able to improve their overall record to 6-2 and a split of their two games in the Sunshine State.

Penn State saw two student-athletes reach the double-digit plateau as Ally Burke and Brianna Bayly registered 19 and 12 points, respectively. Brittnay Kiger was the game leader with 11 rebounds.

Rivier will look for their seventh win of the season when they host Lesley University on January 5th. Game time is set for 1pm inside the Muldoon Gymnasium.