Women’s Basketball Downs Dean on Senior Day, 95-62

NASHUA, N.H. – A thirty-point outing from graduate student Lyric Grumblatt propelled the Rivier women's basketball team to a 95-62 victory over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Dean on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at the Muldoon Center.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 14-10 (10-3 GNAC) while the Bulldogs dropped to 6-17 (1-11 GNAC).

A three-pointer from senior Anna Stawasz gave the Raiders an early 7-3 lead at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter. Graduate student Hannah Muchemore scored five consecutive points to extend the Rivier lead to 12-7 midway through the frame. Grumblatt and sophomore Alyssa Scharn followed with layups, pushing the gap to 18-9 with 2:42 left in the quarter. Senior Alexa Dufries drained a three-pointer in the closing stages of the quarter as the Raiders entered the second quarter with a 21-11 lead.

Dufries added to her total, scoring on back-to-back possessions to extend the lead to 14 points at the 8:41 mark of the second quarter. Senior Rachel Guinn added a three-pointer, and first-year Sydney Perry capped off the 11-0 run with a fastbreak layup, giving the Raiders a 32-11 advantage. First-year Gianna Donato knocked down a transition three-pointer, sparking an 18-11 run to close the quarter, as the Raiders took a 52-24 lead into the halftime break.

Grumblatt opened the second half with five straight points, giving the Raiders a firm 57-28 lead. Guinn and Stawasz followed with back-to-back three-pointers, extending the lead to 33 points with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter. The Bulldogs responded with a few baskets, but Rivier closed out the quarter on a 9-3 run, taking a 79-43 lead into the final frame.

Dean continued to battle, but late fourth-quarter shots from sophomore Emily Coleman and first-year Hannah Smith helped the Raiders seal the 95-62 victory.

Grumblatt recorded her 8th double-double of the season, finishing with 30 points on 12-of-22 (54.5%) shooting and grabbing 14 rebounds, along with seven assists and three steals. Dufries contributed 14 points on 6-of-10 (60%) shooting and four rebounds. Guinn added 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Stawasz set a career-high with nine points, while Perry chipped in with eight points and seven rebounds. Muchemore contributed five points and led the team with eight assists.

The Raiders outrebounded the Bulldogs 63-38 and also recorded 27 assists compared to Dean's 12. Rivier forced 22 turnovers, converting them into 33 points, while Dean scored just 15 off turnovers. The Raiders also held significant advantages in second-chance points (28-11), points in the paint (52-28), fastbreak points (13-6), and bench points (37-11).

The Raiders wrap up GNAC play on Tuesday, Feb 18 on the road against Micthell at the Yarnall Athletic Center. Tip-off is slated for 5:00 p.m.