By ALEX HORTON
Staff Writer
The women’s basketball team started the evening off right with a 79-67 win over defending national champion Bentley Falcons. The game had four players in the double digits in scoring. Led by junior guard Keyontae Williams’ 19 points, the Golden Knights shot 53 percent from the field.
Williams pulled down five rebounds and also had three assists. Sophomore guard Taylor Nazon provided quality minutes off the bench, scoring 24 points with senior guard Jamie Hutcheson adding 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Senior guard Gabie Polce also had 12 points while racking up seven assists.
Saint Rose closed the first half on an 18-5 run, giving the Knights a 14-point lead over the Falcons going into the half. The second half saw the Falcons come within four, but they could not close the gap any further, with St. Rose shooting as well as they did. The women’s basketball team plays Stonehill on Saturday and will play their next home game on Wednesday against the Yellow Jackets from American International.
As for the men’s game, Bentley took the game 87-69. What really hurt the Golden Knights was the fact that the Falcons shot 44 pecrent beyond the arc, knocking down 15 of 34 shots. A bright spot for the Golden Knights came off the bench in freshman center Sam Eckstrom, who put up 19 points with two rebounds. Freshman forward Jalaun Taylor also had a good game, putting up 26 points, one shy of his season high, while pulling down seven rebounds.
During halftime of the men’s game, the Athletic Department hosted the Student Athlete Academic Recognition Ceremony. The event recognized 128 student athletes from the men and women’s Cross Country, Track and Field, Swimming and Diving, Soccer and Basketball teams. Baseball, Softball, Women’s Tennis, and Volleyball players were also represented well during the event.
Women’s volleyball and women’s swimming and diving posted the highest team GPA for small squad (15 players or fewer), and large squad, respectively. The event recognized the student athletes for maintaining at least a 3.30 GPA throughout their time as a member of their respective athletic team.
National team awards were also presented to Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball. Men’s Basketball and Men’s Swimming and Diving both received academic excellence awards.
Another story came out of the men’s basketball team, with forward Jack Jones receiving the NE-10 Freshman of the Week honor.
When asked about Jones’ play, assistant coach James Wilson said, “He’s letting the game come to him, and he’s not forcing the issue.” Wilson thinks highly of his team, saying that “any player on this team has a chance to be player of the week on any given week.”
The men’s basketball team will play their next game away at Stonehill on Saturday. Their next home game will be on Wednesday against American International.
