WORCESTER, Mass. – The No. 10/18 Assumption University women's basketball team used a strong first quarter as they picked up their 14^th win of the season, following a 64-55 win against Pace University Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Score: No. 10/18 Assumption University 64, Pace University 55
Records: Greyhounds (14-2, 8-2 NE10), Setters (7-9, 4-6 NE10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Greyhounds jumped out of the gate in bright fashion, going up 12-5 in the first five minutes to force an early timeout from Pace. Assumption had an emphasis on defense early, forcing six turnovers out of the Setters in the opening ten minutes. Pace responded by forcing turnovers of their own, and slowed down Assumption's offense in the final five, down 17-8 after the first. Marina Callahan led the way for Assumption with six points.
 
Callahan continued her strong play in the second, as her eight points and four rebounds were good to lead Assumption in both categories at the 7:18 mark when Kerry Phayre called her first timeout. The Setters started to crawl their way back, as two free throws from Shanice Sinclair cut the Greyhounds' lead down to four with 4:03 to go. A late push from the home team, including a three-point play from Teagan Curran with 27 seconds to go gave the Greyhounds a six-point lead at the break, 27-21. 
 
Similar to the first quarter, Assumption came out of the gates with a spark. Back-to-back baskets from Ja'Lyn Armstrong and Anna Davis at the 6:47 mark brought the lead back up to ten. Pace continued to make things interesting, making a run of their own to tie the game with 2:30 minutes to go in the quarter. In response, the Greyhounds put together a show, getting back-to-back to back layups, including a Curran runner as the quarter expired. Assumption went into the fourth up eight. 
 
The momentum continued into the fourth, with Molly Stokes grabbing a layup in transition with 6:02 to go, forcing a timeout from Pace and giving Assumption its largest lead on the day at 15. It was cruise control from there on out, as the Greyhounds got their 14th win on the season, 64-55.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Ja'Lyn Armstrong led the way for the Greyhounds with a season-high 18 points, while Marina Callahan (12) and Teagan Curran (10) registered double-digit points.
• Callahan had a near double-double, as she scored 12 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
• Pace outrebounds Assumption 38-30, while the Greyhounds dominated paint by a 44-26 margin.
• The hosts recorded six blocks and seven steals, while the Setters had one block and four steals.

UP NEXT

• AU at Bridgeport, Monday, January 16, 5:00 pm
• Pace vs. St. Thomas Aquinas, Monday, January 16, 3:00 pm

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