Raiders go down with a fight

Riv (15-10; 7-5), playing in their program-record fourth consecutive GNAC tournament, gave top-seeded Emmanuel College a scare as the game came down to the final moments. The Raiders came out playing with a fire and determination that belies their age and took an early 6-0 lead on two deep trifectas. The Saints responded and quickly closed the gap to 6-5. The first ten minutes belonged to the visitors until a 10-0 spurt by the reigning GNAC champs pushed the lead to 12 points. Another three by the Blue and Gray with 1.2 seconds on the clock sent the underdogs into the locker room down nine. Both teams started out cold in the second half as there was only two field goals scored between them in the first threee minutes. Emmanuel kept the pressure on and extended their lead to a game-high 15 points with just over eleven minutes to go in the game. The Raiders had one last push in them and hit some clutch jumpers and free throws to cut the lead to 5 with just under two minutes remaining. This was as close as Riv would get as some last minutes free throws by the home team accounted for the final score.

This was the final game for Riv's two seniors, Jess Mellen (Rockland, MA) and Monica White (Augusta,ME). The duo led the way again tonight as White dropped in a team-high 15 points to go with a pair of rebounds. Mellen, meanwhile, filled up the stat sheet finishing with a double-double of 14 points and grabbed a game-high 17 boards, while adding 5 assists and 3 steals. Both players surpassesd the 1000 point plateau earlier this season and both will go down as two of the best players to ever wear the Blue and Gray. Freshman Mackenzie Brooks (Colebrook, NH) was the only other double figure scorer for Riv as she tallied 11 points and pulled down 4 rebounds in the game. Sophomore Amandra Purcell (Hudson, NH) and freshman Lauren Brett (Otisfield, ME) each dropped in a pair of treys and finished with 8 points apiece. Purcell also dished out 5 assists on the night. Although you won't see her impact in the stat sheet, freshman Ashley Metivier (Hudson, NH) had a solid all-around game as she gave the Raiders quality minutes off the bench and handled Emmanuel's 40 minutes of full-court pressure like a veteran.

Even though the Raiders lose two great players, the future looks bright as several key players return to the hardwood next season to make yet another run at the GNAC championship.