Worcester, Mass. (November 30) -- Led by an 18-point, eight-rebound effort from senior captain Caitlin Ackerman (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South), the Assumption College women's basketball team defeated LIU Post by a 74-59 final in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon. The win is the first in the all-time series for the Hounds in Worcester and evens the overall series record at 2-2.

Assumption is currently receiving votes in the USA Today Division II National Poll and is ranked No. 21 in the latest D2SIDA Division II National Poll. The Hounds are also ranked third in the East Region in the D2SIDA Poll, receiving one first-place vote.

Assumption jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead over the first 3:37, capped by a layup from sophomore Jo Impellizeri (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's). The Hounds continued to lead by eight at 12-4 after a baseline jumper from sophomore Jaclyn Storey (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) before a pullup jumper by Quanisha Ratley cut the lead to 14-6 with 11:25 left in the low-scoring opening half.

Following a Hounds timeout with 8:40 remaining in the first period, Assumption stretched the lead into double figures for the first time after a corner three from sophomore Shayla Hubbard (Laconia, N.H./New Hampton Prep) and a layup from Impellizeri with 7:01 left. The Pioneers countered with a fast break layup from Ratley before the Hounds forced their ninth turnover of the opening half. After the forced turnover by Ackerman, junior Kelly Conley (Ellington, Conn./Ellington) took the ball up the court and found Ackerman cutting to the hoop for the 21-10 lead.

Assumption led by as many as 17 points on three occasions in the opening period, including first at 27-10 with 2:06 on the clock after a pair of free throws by Impellizeri. The Pioneers twice cut the advantage down to 15, but two free throws from junior Ann Marie Idusuyi (Lynn, Mass./St. Mary's) made it a 31-14 halftime margin.

The Hounds forced 11 first-half turnovers while holding the Pioneers to just 18.4 percent shooting from the field and 0-for-6 from three-point land. Idusuyi and Impellizeri each posted eight points in the first half, while Idusuyi led all rebounders with six boards.

In the second, Assumption led by 18 points after a corner three by freshman Teneya McLaughlin (Milford, Conn./Joseph A. Foran) with 13:32 left. The Pioneers roared to life though with a quick 8-0 run behind a press on the defensive end, capped by a layup by Ratley with 11:50 left after she forced a Hounds turnover.

With the margin 11 points with 9:01 remaining at 51-40, a 7-0 Assumption run capped by a pair of Ackerman free throws stretched the lead back up to 58-40 for the Hounds. Idusuyi extended the lead out to a game-high 19 points with 6:34 left after a three-point play made it 61-42 in favor of the hosts.

Assumption led by at least 13 over the remainder of the game as the Hounds ran their regular-season winning streak to 11 straight dating back to last season.

Ackerman was 6-for-8 from the field and 6-for-7 from the line, while Impellizeri added 16 points and seven boards. Idusuyi finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in her second straight start, while Conley finished with 10 points and a team-best four assists.

For the Pioneers, Chelsea Williams led all scorers with a game-high 21 points, while Ratley added 15 and Ashley Castle posted 11.

For the game, the Hounds shot 45.8 percent from the field and outscored the Pioneers by a 28-10 margin at the free throw line. Neither team connected at a high rate from three-point land as the teams finished a combined from 5-for-29 from behind the arc.

With the win, Assumption improves to a perfect 6-0 overall, while LIU Post drops to 3-2 on the season. This marks the third 6-0 start for the Hounds over the last four seasons.

Assumption is back in action on Wednesday, December 3rd when the Hounds host nationally-ranked Stonehill College for a 5:30 p.m. matchup at Laska Gym. Both teams enter that game unbeaten in Northeast-10 play at 3-0, with the winner taking sole possession of first place in the league's Northeast Division.

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