Newbury Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive

The Newbury College Women's Basketball team may just be turning their season around.  Defeating Southern Vermont College this afternoon by a score of 82-63, they proved that persistence truly can pay off and that the possibility of a play-off run is still within their grasp. 

After an opening ten minutes of back-and-forth play, the Nighthawks fell into a near unstoppable rhythm finding shooters Ashley Monteiro (Cambridge, MA/Cambridge Rindge & Latin), Morganna Machado (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro), and Kendra Bannister (Stafford, VA/Brook Point) who connected on a combined 9-15 from behind the arc.  Teammate Jessica Graus (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) continued to dominate the paint ripping down seven boards in addition to dishing out four assists to send Newbury into the locker room with a 41-25 lead.

Southern Vermont began chipping away at the start of the second half led by Joa Claircius (Clermont, FL/East Ridge) who scored 13 of her 18 points after the break.  Newbury was determined to hold on, however, as junior captain Katelyn Mark (Quincy, MA/North Quincy) countered Claircius' effort with 12 points of her own.  Monteiro and Machado were mainstays on the perimeter shooting 4-6 and propelling the Nighthawks to victory number four on the season and a 4-7 NECC record. 

Newbury has five conference games remaining on their schedule as they vie for a post-season spot.  When asked what it will take to make the first ever NECC tournament Coach Katie Greene said "We are peaking right at the perfect time, hard work and determination is what it will take to make a run to the play offs."  The Nighthawks will travel to Mitchell College on Thursday, February 12, 2009 to take on the Mariners at 7:00 PM.