FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of EC Athletics Communications
BOSTON, Mass. – Prior to the Emmanuel College women's basketball team's 59-55 win on Saturday over Heidelberg University, Emmanuel President Sister Janet Eisner, SND welcomed over 60 women's basketball alumnae in a ceremony honoring Head Coach Andy Yosinoff, naming the court in his honor. Now in his 40th year at the institution, Yosinoff has led the Saints to 769 wins and counting and his legacy will now always be a part of Emmanuel women's basketball as the floor will officially be known as the Andy Yosinoff Court.
"Today was a day I will never forget," said Yosinoff. "So many people that I care about including my father, college tennis teammates, former players, assistant coaches and other staff members were here today and without them, this honor would not have been possible."
Senior forward Jen Chalk (Horseheads, N.Y.) poured in 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Emmanuel over visiting Heidelberg in the opening round of the 33rd Annual EC Tip-Off Classic at the Jean Yawkey Center. The Saints improve to 1-0 following their season opener, while the Student Princes fall to 0-1.
The Saints held the Student Princes to 33.9 % (19-56) from the floor, despite the visitors shooting 53.8 % (14-26) in the second half. Emmanuel's perimeter defense limited Heidelberg to just one three-pointer in 13 attempts (7.7 %) for the game.
Chalk was 9-16 from the floor and added three assists, two steals and a block for the Saints, while senior guard Olivia Marks (Canterbury, Conn.) netted 12 points on 4-6 shooting to go with four boards, three steals and two assists. Sophomore point guard Olivia Dalphonse (Portland, Maine) dished out a game-high six assists in addition to scoring five points and coming up with a pair of steals.
Senior forward Carli Patrick (Norwalk, Ohio) led the Student Princes with 16 points on 7-11 from the field, while pulling down five rebounds and making two steals. Senior guard Theresa Jackson (Wakeman, Ohio) netted 13 points, grabbed six boards, handed out two assists and made a steal.
Emmanuel closed out the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to erase a four-point deficit and pull out a 59-55 victory. Junior guard Ryan Maynard (Bowie, Md.) came up with a steal on the baseline and found a streaking Marks, who was fouled going to the glass. Marks converted a pair of free throws to give the Saints a 57-55 lead with 6.7 seconds remaining in the game after trailing by four almost two minutes earlier.
Emmanuel owned a 38-29 lead with 61 seconds left in the third quarter, before Jackson made a layup make it 38-31 to end the period. Heidelberg put together an 18-7 stretch over the first 5:41 of the final quarter, capped by eight straight points, to take a 47-45 lead with 4:19 left in the game. Jackson led the charge with seven points. Chalk made a jumper to end a two-minute scoring drought and pull the Saints event at 47-all, but Jackson countered with a jumper of her own to reclaim the lead for the visitors. Senior center Marisa Liburdi (Laper, Mich.) later knocked down a free throw to give the Student Princes a 53-49 lead with 2:01 to go before Emmanuel made its comeback.
Heidelberg took a 9-4 lead after one quarter of play, following a 7-2 run led by three points from senior guard Mariah Pearson (Painesville, Ohio). Emmanuel came back with a 9-2 stretch to open the second period, capped by a three-pointer from Marks, to take a 13-11 lead with 4:36 to play in the opening half. A pair of free throws each from junior guard Kate Brickner (Tiffin, Ohio) and freshman guard Brittanie Ulmer (Lima, Ohio) gave the Student Princes a 15-13 margin with 3:50 showing in the second quarter. The Saints closed out the period with six of the final eight points, including four free throws from sophomore guard Maddie McLaughlin (Westerly, R.I.), to take a 19-17 halftime lead.
Yosinoff and the Saints will play Catholic University, a 45-40 winner over Saint John Fisher College, in Sunday's 3:00 p.m. championship game. Heidelberg takes on Saint John Fisher in the consolation contest at 1:00 p.m.