Jay’Mi Vazquez- Managing Editor
Avery Martin- Contributor
It was a hard-earned win for the Owls on Wednesday, Feb 7. The women’s basketball team defeated Pace University 48-41 at home.
“A win is a win,” Head Coach Kate Lynch said. “I guess I could say we did what we had to do defensively”.
There were several substitutions in the tight first two quarters. However, the Owls managed to use their defensive skills to hold a six-point lead for 13:32.
Forward Katie Williamson, a senior, defined the first quarter, scoring four points in two baskets. Guard Mackenzie Helms, a graduate, contributed two points, and guard Delaney Haines, a junior, gave the Owls 3 points.
“My role coming off the bench is to score. So for however long I’m in there, my goal is just to score. I think when I score it just brings energy to the team, and I play off everybody else,” Haines said.
In the second quarter, Williamson started off strong with three points, one of which was scored through a free throw. Helms and guard Hope Fox, a sophomore, each racked up two points while guard Jillian Martin, a senior, scored one on a free throw.
At the end of quarter two, Williamson led both teams with eight rebounds. Fox and forward Renza Milner, a junior, each had two.
The real star of the second quarter was Haines, who had five points. That brought her up to eight points scored in the first two quarters and one rebound.
“I thought it was a really good game,” Haines said. “We were playing against a good team, so we just have to come out and play our best game. I think every player on our team came out and did their job.”
That took the Owls to a lead of 24-22 going into halftime.
The third quarter kicked off with a three-point shot from guard Julianna Bonilla, a graduate, followed by two points each for Williamson and Helms.
“We kind of had a couple of droughts during the game where neither team was scoring. When I know we need to get one to the hole, coach keeps me mindful of getting it going,” Helms said.
Helms and Haines continued to score, having the Owls leading 38-30 going into the final moments of the third quarter. Forward Rheyna Steinauer, a sophomore, then scored two points before following it up with a three.
In the final quarter, the play turned slower as Helms and Haines scored two points and four points respectively to finish the game. In the last two quarters, Williamson once again led both teams with 15 rebounds. Her teammates Martin, Haines and Fox each had two.
The score ended at a close 48-41, with the Owls taking the win.
The team was wearing pink during the game in a nod to breast cancer awareness that added higher stakes on Wednesday night.
This crucial outcome brought the Owls to sixth in the NE10 standings. They boast a 9-7 conference record and a 15-7 overall record.
The Owls are back in action at Saint Anselm College on Feb 10.
