Merrimack defeats Greyhounds women's hoop, 55-45

Merrimack 55, Assumption 45

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. --- Junior forward SARAH BENISCHEK (Shrub Oak, NY/Lakeland) scored 18 points and added seven rebounds as Merrimack College led all-the-way en route to defeating Assumption College, 55-45, in Northeast-10 Conference women's basketball action Saturday at the Volpe Center.

Junior forward/captain MOLLY GRIFFITHS (Walpole, MA/Ursuline Academy) (13 points, seven rebounds) and senior guard LESLIE LUPIEN (Pomfret, CT/Woodstock Academy) (12 points, six rebounds) led the Greyhounds.

Sophomore guard GENNIFER ROY (Granby, MA/Granby) added 15 points, senior guard CASEY MILLER (Fairbanks, AK/West Valley) had 11 points in support roles for Merrimack while freshman forward KATIE GANSER (Needham, MA/Needham) led all rebounds with 11.

Merrimack moved to a 24-1 lead at the halftime break as both teams struggled from the floor. The Greyhounds made just eight-of-9 shots (.276), while Merrimack was nine for 26 (.346). The Warriors missed all eight of their three-point attempts in the first 20 minutes.

The Greyhounds battled back an trailed by just two points, 45-43, with 3:15 left after senior guard JACKIE BRANCA (Hansen, MA/Whitman-Hansen) made both ends of a two-shot foul opportunity. Merrimack would outscore the Hounds, 10-2, for the rest of the game.

The Greyhounds, now 9-5 overall and 6-3 in the conference are next in action when they host conference rival Stonehill College Tuesday. Merrimack is now 5-9 overall and 3-6 in the conference.

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