Worcester, Mass. (February 20) -- Led by a 31-point effort from senior Gabrielle Gibson (Amityville, N.Y./Copiague), the Assumption College women's basketball team pulled away in the second half for a 68-58 win over the College of Saint Rose on Wednesday night. Assumption is receiving votes in the USA Today Sports Division II National Poll for the 10th straight week and is ranked No. 7 in this week's NCAA East Region Poll.

In a turnover-plagued first half, Saint Rose jumped out to a quick 16-11 lead midway thru the period following a basket from Maria Sanchez. Assumption closed that lead to one though with 5:48 left in the first half on a three from Gibson that made it an 18-17 margin. The Golden Knights, who shot 52 percent from the field in the half, stretched the lead back out to 25-21 before a Gibson three-point play late in the half put the Hounds back in front 26-25. Nicole Bini knocked down a jumper for the visitors though in the final seconds to propel Saint Rose to a 27-26 halftime lead. Gibson led all scorers in the half with 11 points, while the Hounds forced 16 Saint Rose turnovers in the first period alone.

Saint Rose stretched the lead out to as many as six in the second half before the Hounds tied the game at 38 on a three from Gibson with 12:59 remaining. The teams went back and forth over the next two minutes and the Hounds trailed by just a 43-42 margin with 11 left. Assumption embarked on a crucial 8-0 scoring run, capped by a hoop from sophomore Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South), to gain control at 50-43. The Golden Knights cut the lead down to just two at 60-58 with 1:52 left before Assumption closed on an 8-0 run to complete the season series sweep of Saint Rose.

Gibson led all scorers with 31 points and now sits at 1,511 career points. Saint Rose was led by 16 points from Gabie Polce and 15 from Bini, along with 18 rebounds from Sanchez. Saint Rose outrebounded Assumption by a 48-27 margin, including 35-19 on the defensive glass. On the defensive end, Assumption forced 27 Saint Rose turnovers.

With the win, Assumption improves to 18-6 overall and 15-5 in the Northeast-10, while Saint Rose falls to 9-15 overall and 6-14 in league play.

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