Parker, Floyd power women's basketball past Merrimack, 70-54

February 15, 2007

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. --- Freshman forward KAYLA PARKER (Sanford, ME/Sanford) registered her first career double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while junior forward CHARDE FLOYD (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) added 15 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as the Assumption College women's basketball team dominated Merrimack College, 70-54, in a Northeast-10 Conference game here THURSDAY at the Volpe Complex.

The Greyhounds utilized tenacious defensive pressure in the first half building a 35-16 halftime at the break. Merrimack could manage only seven field goals in 27 attempts (.259) and made just two-of-13 (.154) from behind the arc in the first half.

Floyd and Parker each had 13 points to lead the offense while contributing 18 rebounds as the Greyhounds dominated the board action, 27-15.

Floyd continued her move up the career lists for the Greyhounds and now has 927 points (19th place)---just seven point behind Kerry Milhaven '06 (934 points) and 754 rebounds (8th place)---just four behind Michelle Towne '04 (758) and 16 behind Joy Barry '93 (770). She has eight double-doubles this season and 23 for her career. For Parker it was the eighth straight game in which she had reached double figures.

The Greyhounds bolted to a quick 8-0 lead and then with the score 19-12 went on a 16-2 run to make it a 21-point advantage, 35-14, with 2:00 left in the half.

Floyd opened with a spinning move to the basket, two free throws and then a steal and layin to make it quickly 6-0. An offensive rebound and put back by Parker made it 8-0. After Merrimack's CASEY MILLER and AMANDA SHANNON (27 points to lead the Warriors) hit back-to-back jumpers to make it 19-12, the Hounds spurted to their biggest lead of the game.

Parker started it with a a rebound put back of her own miss and followed with two free throws. After junior forward MEGAN URBAN (Portland, ME/Deering) scored on an underhanded spin move on a nice feed from senior guard JESS PAULSON (North Providence, RI/LaSalle Academy), sophomore guard BETHANY PLASSKI (Fall River, MA/Durfee) hit a jumper and ensuing free throw to make it 28 12.

Shannon then countered for Merrimack with a jumper before the Greyhounds ran off another 7-0 spurt. Floyd scored inside on a spin move and then made a conventional three-point play followed by Urban scoring on a sky hook.

The Hounds dominated the first half outscoring the Warriors 24-6 in the paint, 14-4 off turnovers, and 14-7 on second-chance efforts.

Merrimack would claw back into contention in the second half closing to within eight points, 53-45, as Shannon made both ends of a one-and-one situation with 4:54 remaining.

A jumper and two free throws by Plasski again had the lead in double figures (12 points). Plasski led the Greyhounds with 11 second-half points and finished with 14 overall including 7-for-7 at the free throw line.

The Greyhounds are now 12-13 overall, with four straight victories and five of their last six, and 9-11 (ninth place) in the Northeast-10 Conference. Merrimack is now 6-19 overall and 4-16 in the conference.

Assumption finishes its regular-season Saturday at Stonehill College (1:30 p.m. tapoff) and Tuesday hosting Bentley College (5:30 p.m. tapoff).

The Northeast-10 Conference playoffs start Sunday, February 25.

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