NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier University women's basketball team took care of business on its home floor Thursday evening as the Raiders defeated visiting Lasell College, 56-52 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at the Muldoon Gymnasium.

The win is the first of the season for the Raiders as they are now 1-15 overall and 1-11 in the GNAC while the Lasers fall to 3-15, 1-10 conference.

Rivier was able to sustain the impressive scoring effort from senior Morgan Church (New London, N.H.) who was the only Laser to hit double-digit scoring with 33 points, her second-highest scoring effort of the season. Church also pulled down eight rebounds and dished out six assists.

Junior Kaylee Kacavas (Dracut, Mass.) was the leader for Rivier as she shot 9-for-19 to total 26 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Lizzy Meehan (Nashua, N.H.) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while junior Megan Hamel (Colebrook, N.H.) collected a game-high 18 rebounds. Senior Emilee Kacavas (Dracut, Mass.) also pulled down double-digit board as she had 12 and as a team, the Raiders outrebounded Lasell, 62-41.

Lasell battled from behind most of the evening, trailing 18-10 after one quarter and 31-26 at halftime. Church kept the Lasers within striking distance with 16 points in the first half.

The Lasers fought back to tie the score at 33-all midway through the third quarter after a three-pointer by Church, and took their first lead of the night (39-38) after consecutive baskets by freshman Devyn Markland (Derby, Conn.) to close out the third quarter.

Church outscored Rivier 6-1 early in the fourth quarter to put Lasell up 45-39, but a determined Rivier squad battled back to tie the score at 47-all with 6:35 to play. The hosts then scored six unanswered points to go ahead 53-47 with 2:45 to go. Lasell was within two points (54-52) after Church's final basket with a minute to go, but couldn't get the tying basket and Rivier made two free throws to seal the win.

Both teams will play another GNAC tilt on Saturday afternoon as the Raiders travel to Johnson & Wales University and Lasell returns home to host Albertus Magnus College, both games at 1:00 p.m.

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