Worcester, Mass. (February 2) -- Assumption senior Katy Howard (Medway, Mass./Medway) became the 22nd player in Assumption history to surpass the 1,000-point mark as the Hounds defeated Merrimack by an 86-62 final on Saturday afternoon at Laska Gym. Assumption is receiving votes in the USA Today Sports Division II National Poll for the seventh straight week.

Howard, who entered the game with 999 career points, finished the contest with 13-point effort to help lead the Hounds to their second-straight victory.

Assumption never trailed in the game and with 9:29 left in the opening period, Howard scored on a shot in the paint for her 1000th point and a 19-11 Assumption lead. The Hounds built the lead into double figures just moments later and took a 39-25 lead into the halftime break. In the second, the Hounds built the lead to as many as 27 points on a number of occasions before coming away with the 86-62 victory.

Senior Gabrielle Gibson (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague) led the hounds with 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting, along with 13 from Howard and a nine-point, 11-rebound outing from freshman Ann Marie Idusuyi (Lynn, Mass./St. Mary's). The Hounds held a 19-10 edge at the free throw line and outrebounded the Warriors by a commanding 43-20 margin.

Ashley Weissmann was the lone Merrimack player in double figures as she finished up with 12 points off the bench.

With the win, Assumption now stands at 14-5 overall and 11-4 in Northeast-10 play, while Merrimack drops to 11-8 overall and below .500 at 7-8 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Wednesday, February 6th as the Hounds host Southern Connecticut for a 5:30 p.m. start at Laska Gym.

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