Women's Basketball: Kacavas, Raiders fall at home to JWU 73-65

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Women's Basketball team lost their Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest this evening to visiting Johnson and Wales University, 73-65. With the loss, the Raiders are now 8-13 overall and 5-8 in the conference. Johnson & Wales, meanwhile, moves to 15-7 overall and 10-3 in the GNAC.

The Raiders were paced by sophomore Kaylee Kacavas (Dracut, Mass.) who knocked down 7-of-15 for a game-high 22 points. Senior Savanna Butterfield (Londonderry, N.H.) registered another double-double of her final season as she finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Classmates Caitlin Bulger (Quincy, Mass.) and Rebecca DeBaldo (Pelham, N.H.) also reach double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Sophomore Megan Hamel (Colebrook, N.H.) came off the bench and collected nine rebounds for Rivier.

Johnson and Wales junior Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, R.I.) recorded her 1,000th career point with her final shot in the contest. She finished with a team-high 22 points. Senior Kimberly Viafara (Woodside, N.Y.) was the star for the Wildcats as she recorded her own double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds. Junior Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, Mass.) also reached double-digits with 17 points.

The Raiders will close out their 2016-17 home schedule on Saturday afternoon as they host Saint Joseph's College (Me.) in an all-important conference contest at the Muldoon. It will also be Senior Day where the team plans on honoring their five seniors prior to the start of the 1pm contest. The Wildcats will also be in GNAC action on Saturday as they travel to Norwich University for a 3pm tip-off.