Saddler Helps No. 10 Lady Knights Saddle Mustangs 64-49!

12.13.21

Warwick, R.I. – December 13, 2021: The No. 10 ranked (NJCAA DIII Women’s Basketball Poll) CCRI Lady Knights basketball team hosted the very potent (9-1) Mustangs of Central Maine Community College on Sunday afternoon. The Lady Knights defeated the Mustangs 64-49. With the victory CCRI finishes the semester with a 10-1 overall record and 6-0 record in Region XXI play.

The Lady Knights knew they had their work cut out for them in this contest as the Mustangs of Central Maine came into Sunday with a 9-1 record averaging 84ppg and were ranked No. 3 by the USCAA in Division II Women’s Basketball (NOTE: USCAA players eligible for four years not two like NJCAA). However, the Lady Knights were riding a five game win streak and were looking to end the semester with another signature victory.

CCRI fired out of the gates and scored the game’s first 10 points with a frenzy of defensive effort that led to great scoring opportunities which the Lady Knights converted into points. CCRI kept up the intensity through the entire quarter to go into the first quarter break with a 25-11 lead. The Lady Knights utilized a balanced attack led by Kayla Saddler (West Warwick, RI) and Chloe Rayko (Coventry, RI) who each sank two 3-pointers. They were aided by center Maggie Schwab (Narragansett, RI) who added six points and Elizabeth Bruno (Providence, RI) who added five points including a 3-pointer.

In the second quarter the Lady Knights maintained their defensive excellence as they held the high-powered Mustang offense to just nine points while scoring 13 points of their own led by freshman forward Ashley Lima (Cape Verde) who scored six points and Elizabeth Bruno who scored four points. In addition, Kayla Saddler added another 3-pointer while also applying tremendous defensive pressure. The Lady Knights went into the halftime break leading 38-20.

After the halftime break both teams realized that defense, not offense, was going to be the key to victory in this contest. Central Maine was doing their all to match the defensive intensity of the Lady Knights and baskets became hard to come by. The Mustangs played tremendous perimeter defense as they did not allow a 3-pointer in the second half. The Lady Knights countered with unselfish play and guard penetration to outscored The Mustangs 14-12 in the third to take a 20 point lead 52-32 into the final frame. Lady Knights’ guards co-captain Michelle Moreno (Providence, RI) and Chloe Rayko led CCRI with four points apiece in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter Central Maine pulled out all the stops and went for broke as they brought their defense to another level which affected the Lady Knights adversely and helped The Mustangs cut into the Lady Knights’ lead. In fact, with a little over two minutes left in the game CMCC had cut the lead to just 10 points. However, the backcourt tandem of Michelle Moreno and Elizabeth Bruno combined for nine points in the final quarter as CCRI was able to extend their lead back to 15 points as they won by the final score of 64-49.

Leading he way for the Lady Knights was co-captain Michelle Moreno with a game-high 13 points with eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Freshman guard Kayla Saddler came off the bench to score 11 points including a career-high three 3-pointers on 3-5 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc with two assists. Freshman center Maggie Schwab scored 10 points with eight rebounds and a blocked shot. Chloe Rayko added 10 points including two 3-pointers with five rebounds and assist and a steal. Freshman forward Ashley Lima scored nine points with eight rebounds, an assist and three blocked shots. Lima is ranked No, 5 in the nation with 23 blocked shots on the season. Elizabeth Bruno added nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

After the game Head Coach Doug Haynes commented: “Great team effort. Four players in double-figures. (Kayla) Saddler came off the bench and played a great game giving us a spark on offense and defense. Overall a great team effort.”

The next game for the Lady Knights will be Saturday January 8^th at 1pm when they will host the Seawolves of Southern Maine Community College from Portland, ME.

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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 10,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.