CURRY COLLEGE ATHLETICS

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Behind 16 points and 11 rebounds from freshman guard Carolyn Houston (Melrose, NY) and 16 points from junior Joneiha Veiga (Brockton, Mass.), the Curry College women’s basketball team defeated the Framingham State Rams 75-66 in non-conference action this evening.  With the win, the Colonels even their record at 3-3, while the loss drops the Rams to 3-2.

The Colonels never trailed in the game and led by as many as ten in the first half before the Rams clawed their way back into the game.  Junior Nicole McConaghy (Medford, Mass.) led all scorers with 13 points in the first half including the Rams final six points in the half to cut their deficit to three at the break.  Senior guard Liz Forte (Rutland, VT) led the Colonels in the first half with nine points including 3 of 4 from behind the arc.

The Rams pulled within one on a layup by McConaghy with 16:14 left in the game, but the Colonels went on a 14-7 run capped by a three from junior Jennifer Olejnik (Salem, Mass.) to pull ahead 54-46 with 12:32 remaining.  Veiga scored six points for Curry on the run.  The Colonels would extend their lead to as many as 12 down the stretch to hold off the Rams for the win.

Houston, who was seven of ten from the floor in the game, and Veiga led four Colonels in double figures.  Freshman forward Hailey Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.) finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Forte finished with 11 points and three assists.

McConaghy led all scorers with a game-high 23 points on nine of sixteen shooting from the floor to go along with five rebounds and four assists.  Senior Toya Chester (Leominster, Mass.) was one rebound shy of a double double with 11 points and nine boards.  Sophomore Emily Clark (Melrose, Mass.) and freshman Kia Minor (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) chipped in ten points apiece. 

The Rams return to action on Saturday as they travel to Regis College at 5 p.m., while the Colonels travel to Ft. Lauderdale, FL for the Cruzin’ Classic on December 18th and 19th.