Nighthawks Defeat Wildcats

The 2009 Nighthawk Women's Basketball team found a rung of opportunity, breaking into the win column by defeating the visiting Wildcats of Bay Path College tonight by a score of 59-38.  Leading the way for Newbury were freshmen Jessica Graus (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) and Kendra Bannister (Stafford, VA/Brook Point) who both recorded double-doubles.

Graus was a force to be reckoned with on the boards, ripping down ten rebounds in both the first and second halves for a game total of 20.  In addition, she put up an impressive ten points - six in the first half propelling the Nighthawks to a 23-16 halftime lead. 

Bannister and teammate Katelyn Mark (Quincy, MA/North Quincy) extended Newbury's lead in the second half playing aggressive defense and combining for 21 points, with 12 and nine respectively.  Graus broke a near ten-minute scoring drought with a basket in the paint, sparking an offensive run that would see three-pointers by Shayla White (Dorchester, MA/Wellesley) and Morganna Machado (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) putting the game out of reach for the Wildcats.

Philosopher Ayn Rand says; "The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity."  One rung down; 13 to go, as the Nighthawks have just over a dozen games left in regular season play.

Newbury travels to Southern Vermont College on Thursday, January 22, 2009 to take on the Mountaineers; game time is 7:00 PM.