Greyhound basketball teams sweep past Northeast-10 Conference rival Merrimack

December 7, 2006

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Junior center COREY DIETHORN (Pittsburgh, PA/Sewickley) scored 24 points---with 10 rebounds for his eighth career double-double---including nine points in the last three minutes leading Assumption College past Merrimack College, 97-88, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball THURSDAY at the Laska Gym.

Assumption is now 3-5 overall---snapping a three-game losing streak-- and 3-3 in the conference. Merrimack is 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the conference.

In the first game, junior forward CHARDE FLOYD (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) scored 17 points to lead the Greyhounds to a 67-49 win over Merrimack in women's Northeast-10 Conference basketball.

The Greyhound women also snapped a three-game negative streak and improved to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the conference. Merrimack is now 2-6 and 1-4. Senior guard JESS PAULSON (North Providence, RI/LaSalle) had 11 points and junior center MEG URBAN (Portland, ME/Deering) added 10 points in support roles. Merrimack junior forward KARA BORELLI (Westbrook, ME/Westbrook) led the Warriors with 15 points, while junior forward ASHLEY BROWNLEE (Portland, ME/Portland) added 10.

The Greyhounds had five other double-figure scorers to support Diethorn. Senior guard MIKE TAFT (Avon, CT/Avon) scored a season- and career-high 17 points and freshman guard COURTLAND BLUFORD (Ft. Washington, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) added his season- and career-high 15 points. Junior guard LEROY BYRON (Worcester, MA/North) added 13 points, junior forward ALEX POPP (Winchester, MA/Winchester) scored 11 and junior forward GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable) scored 10,

For the Warriors their lightning-quick freshman backcourt tandem of CARLOS BROWN (Lawrence, MA/Central Catholic) (23 points) and DARREN DUNCAN (Briarwood, NY/Christ the King) (20 points, 10 assists) combined for 43 points, while senior guard TOM SIPSEY (Salem, NH/Central Catholic) came-off-the bench to drill five second-half three-pointers and junior swing GERRY CORCORAN (Norwell, MA/Norwell) had 14 points.

The Hounds used a 16-0 run in the first half to take control of the game moving from a 21-19 advantage to a 37-19 lead. Taft opened the flurry with a corner three-pointer, Popp canned a pair of free throws and then made a driving layup off a steal and feed from Blueford to make it 28-19.

Taft made both ends of a two-shot foul, Bluford converted a layup, Popp connected on a long three-pointer and freshman forward RENAN MALAFAIA (Wellesley, MA/Newton North) made both ends of a one-and-one for an 18-point lead.

A put back by Bluford off an offensive rebound put the Hounds in front 76-57 with 9:23 left before the Warriors' perimeter game came to life and cut the deficit to seven (79-72) with 5:11 left. Merrimack made an amazing 12-of-18 from behind the arc in the second half.

Diethorn scored nine of the next 13 points for the Greyhounds. Byron connected on a jumper to start the mini-flurry and then Diethorn made both ends of a two-shot foul following a defensive rebound, Bluford converted a layin off a steal and Diethorn followed with two convertional three-point plays and a dunk off a rebound to make it 93-81 with 1:57 left. Byron hit three-pointer to salt it away at 96-81.

The women sped to a 23-13 advantage as freshman forward KAYLA PARKER (Sanford, ME/Sanford) converted a short jumper in the paint with 8:23 left in the first half.

The Greyhounds then used a 14-3 mini-spurt to open the second-half---making it 49-29 with 13:06 left---with five different players contributing. Floyd opened with an inside move on a feed from sophomore guard TRISH GARDNER (Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth), then Urban drilled a corner three-pointer and Floyd made a conventional three-pointer off a Parker feed and inside move. Paulson hustle rebounded her own missed shot and hit a lane jumper, Parker made two free throws and Gardner finished the streak with a short wing jumper.

Assumption will break for exams and next hosts Northeast-10 Conference rival Southern New Hampshire in a women and men's doubleheader Saturday, December 16. Merrimack hosts conference rival Bentley College Monday in a twinbill.