Rivier Rallies to Down Blue Basketball, 72-65

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Rivier University sophomore Lyric Grumblatt (Manchester, N.H.) scored a game-high 31 points to lead the visiting Raiders to a 72-65 non-conference win over Wellesley College basketball inside Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

Wellesley drops the non-conference matchup and falls to 0-2 in the young season. With the win, Rivier improves to 2-0 overall.

Grumblatt knocked down four three-pointers and finished 9-10 from the free throw line. Classmate Anna Stenger (Weare, N.H.) was also in double figures with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Senior guard Cudney Lessard (Auburn, N.H.) finished with nine points and went 4-of-9 from the floor.

First year Caitlin Windross (Eastvale, Calif.) dropped a career high 21 points and added nine rebounds for Wellesley. Sophomore Anna Greenthal (Orinda, Calif.) followed with 16 points and knocked down a pair of three-pointers. Senior Valentina Morakis (Long Island, N.Y.) had a solid performance with eight points and five rebounds.

Trailing 16-15 after the first, the Blue found its offensive rhythm in the second quarter after Greenthal made a shot from beyond the arc and gave Wellesley a 25-20 lead at 4:42. Rivier struggled to keep up with Wellesley's offensive pace and a pair of Taylor Hirn (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) free throws gave the Blue a 35-27 lead going into halftime. Out of the locker room, Wellesley extended its lead to 39-29 after Morakis made a driving layup off an assist by Hirn. Rivier cut the game to just two points after Grumblatt knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key. The Blue would regain its momentum and closed out the third quarter with a Greenthal jumpshot and held a 54-46 lead.

Rivier began to apply pressure on the defensive end and slowly closed the gap. Grumblatt netted a layup off a turnover and tied the game at 54-54. The Raiders would break the tie and eventually extended its lead to six after Stenger made a bucket with 5:35 to play. Wellesley battled back and a huge and-one by Windross cut the lead to just three, 62-59, with 4:18 left in the fourth. Allison Koziarz (New Rochelle, N.Y.) made a huge second-chance layup and cut Rivier's lead to 64-63 at 2:15. However, Lessard would make a three point shot and Stenger followed with a jumper in the final two minutes to close out the Blue.

Wellesley was efficient from the floor as a team, shooting 25-of-55 (45.5%). The Blue knocked down 12-of-17 free throws and gathered 36 rebounds to just 28 for Rivier. The Raiders finished with nine steals and scored 29 points off of turnovers.

Wellesley will hit the road for the first time this season in a matchup with Nichols on Tuesday, November 16 at 6:00 PM. Rivier will play at Maine-Farmington on Friday, November 19 at 7:30 PM.