NEW LONDON, N.H. – February 20, 2016 – Junior Breana Ramirez (Paterson, N.J.) had game-highs of 22 points and 17 rebounds to lead the New England College women's basketball team past Colby-Sawyer, 61-51, in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) regular season finale Saturday afternoon.

Prior to the game, Head Coach George Martin honored this year's senior class which includes Kylah Jones (Burlington, Vt.), Alyssa Keefe (Littleton, N.H.), Katie Krauss (Milton, Mass.), Katie McCarthy (Mansfield, Mass.) and Jessica Shenkel (Sharon, Mass.).

New England College improved to 18-7 overall and 12-6 in the NAC. The Pilgrims earned the fourth seed in the conference standings and will host fifth seed UMaine-Farmington on Tuesday for a quarterfinal matchup. Colby-Sawyer dips to 12-13 overall and 9-9 in the NAC. The Chargers earned the sixth seed in the tournament and will travel to third seed Maine Maritime on Tuesday.

Ramirez had just seven points and six rebounds at the half, but erupted for 15 points and 11 rebounds in the second to lead all players. Senior Tiffany Davis (Baltimore, Md.) added 13 points and seven rebounds, while senior Maranda Parker (Huntsville, Utah) was the third Pilgrim in double figures with 10 points. Junior Marjani Lillard (Bowie, Md.) just missed a triple-double and finished with nine points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Sophomore Emmani Robinson (Newburgh, N.Y.) led Colby-Sawyer with her first career double-double. She scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and added four steals. Jessica Shenkel moved into a tie for third with 162 career three-pointers. She finished the game with seven points.

The Pilgrims raced out to a 10-2 lead after a three-point play from Ramirez 2:40 into the first quarter, but Colby-Sawyer held NEC scoreless for the remainder of the frame and took a 15-10 lead into the second after a 13-0 run.

NEC came back to tie the game at 17-17 and then used a 7-0 run capped by a Lillard layup to take a 24-19 lead. The Chargers pulled within one at the end of the quarter by scoring the final four points of the stanza, but went into the lockerroom trailing 26-25.

The visitors took control in the third outscoring Colby-Sawyer 23-9, including 11 points from Ramierz. NEC led 49-34 after three.  

Colby-Sawyer was able to cut the deficit to single digits late in the fourth, but NEC made free throws down the stretch to secure the 61-51 win.

NEC held a 46-35 advantage on the glass and a 28-20 edge in points in the paint.  

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