No. 13 Ranked Lady Knights Conquer Quinsigamond 86-42!
12.1.21
Maggie Schwab
Warwick, R.I. – December 1, 2021: The No. 13 ranked (NJCAA DIII Women’s Basketball Poll) CCRI Lady Knights basketball team hosted the Wyverns of Quinsigamond Community College to the Cullen Fieldhouse for a Region XXI showdown Tuesday evening. The Lady Knights defeated the Wyverns 86-42. With the victory CCRI improves to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in Region XXI play.
The Lady Knights were coming off their only loss of the season after falling 48-46 to No. 4 ranked Monroe College in New York. CCRI was eager to get back into the win column and prove they deserve their No. 13 NJCAA Division III national ranking.
The Lady Knights quickly set the tone for the game as the inside presence of freshman center Maggie Schwab (Narragansett, RI) and sharpshooting of Chloe Rayko (Coventry, RI) combined for 17 first quarter points. Schwab leads NJCAA Division III in Field Goal Percentage at 67.3% and scored eight points in the first quarter. Rayko on the other hand, is ranked No. 8 by NJCAA DIII in 3-point Field Goal Percentage shooting at a 45.5% clip and she scored nine points in the quarter on 3-3 shooting from 3-pointland. CCRI took a 23-11 lead into the 1st quarter break.
In the second quarter CCRI kicked their defense into high gear and help Quinsigamond to just six points while erupting for 29 points to extend their lead to 52-17 by halftime. Eight Lady Knights hit the scoring column in the second quarter led by co-captain Michelle Moreno (Providence, RI), Elizabeth Bruno (Providence, RI) and co-captain Talia Thibodeau (Cranston, RI) who each scored five points apiece.
In the third quarter CCRI worked the ball inside to freshman forward Ashley Lima (Cape Verde) and Maggie Schwab who each scored six points in the quarter. As the Lady Knights extended their lead to 40 points many of the CCRI reserves got valuable playing time as CCRI continued to maintain their lead. At the end of the third quarter CCRI led 74-31.
The Lady Knights were content to trade baskets with Quinsigamond in the final frame to go on to win by the final count of 86-42.
Leading the way for the Lady Knights was Maggie Schwab with a Double-Double consisting of a career-high 20 points and career-high 12 rebounds while adding two steals and a blocked shot. Freshman sharpshooter Chloe Rayko charted a career-high with 14 points including matching her career-high with four 3-pointers with two assists. Co-captain Michelle Moreno had another very impressive outing with nine points, 10 rebounds, a career-high eight assists, a steal and a blocked shot. Moreno is ranked No. 6 by the NJCAA with 33 assists on the season and 24th in the rebounds with 56 boards on the season. Elizabeth Bruno was also impressive though she only scored five points Bruno dished out six assists, tied a career-high with four steals and added six rebounds. Ashley Lima had eight points, eight rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot. Co-captain Talia Thibodeau came off the bench to score nine points with seven rebounds, two assist and a steal. Rounding out the CCRI top performers was Jazlynn DiZoglio (Providence, RI) and Kayla Saddler (West Warwick, RI) who added eight points apiece.
The next game for the Lady Knights will be Thursday when they will host the Rams of Springfield Technical Community College at 6pm in the Cullen Fieldhouse in Warwick, RI.
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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.