BOSTON, MA – Trailing by a point with less than three minutes to play, Crysta LaCrosse nailed a three-pointer that kicked off a 13-4 run, propelling the Houghton Highlanders past the Emerson Lions, 71-63.
 
After capping the first 10 minutes with a slim 13-11 lead, the Highlanders watched the Lions hit 7-of-13 shots (54%) in the second quarter, taking a 32-26 lead into the half.
 
Houghton regained their footing in the third, outscoring Emerson, 19-15, in the quarter to pull within one point heading into the final quarter.
 
That's when the Houghton offense kicked into high gear.  The Highlanders knocked down all five three-point shots they attempted (from four different players) over the final 10 minutes, and hit 7-of-12 overall. 
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 71 | Emerson – 63
Records: Houghton: 3-0 |Emerson: 2-1
Venue: Brown & Plofker Gym, Boston, MA | Attendance: 124

NOTABLE STATS
>> LaCrosse finished with a game-high 23 points, hitting 7-of-17 from the field, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-7 from the line.  She also added eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
 
>> Kayla Camacho collected 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals.  She has scored at least 20 points in all three games this season, pushing her career total to 739 points.
 
>> Anna Dening scored a career-high 14 points, hitting 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-7 from long distance.  Tabitha DeVries and Tricia Carmer added 10 and nine rebounds apiece, respectively.
 
>> Houghton won the turnover battle, giving the ball away only nine times, while Emerson committed 14 turnovers.  Through the first three games, the Highlanders are averaging only 11 turnovers per game with a differential of 10.3.
 
COACH'S CORNER
 "I'm so impressed with this group's ability to adapt and get through tough situations together.  Emerson is a very strong team that can really score the ball.  We faced a lot of different runs throughout the game but we never seemed overwhelmed.

"All it took was a couple of shots to fall for us in a row, and then we never looked back.  The defense just kept getting better throughout the game, and our young group kept getting closer and closer together and gaining confidence.

"We just refused to lose.  What a great team effort.

"Back at it on Monday.  I'm excited for a home stretch in the coming weeks." - Head Coach Phil Pellegrino
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center on Wednesday, November 20, when they will host the Hilbert Hawks at 5:30 p.m.