Lai, 'Cats Roar Back for 5th Straight Win

Tuesday, December 6

Loudonville, NY

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

6-2

Siena College

2-5

UNH

Siena

Brittni Lai scored 25 points to lead the Wildcat comeback.

12/6/2016 9:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Junior Brittni Lai (Irvington, N.Y.) scored 25 points and directed a spirited and impressive second-half comeback to lead the UNH women's basketball team to its fifth straight win, 77-67, at Siena College on Tuesday night.

Junior center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 18 points and six rebounds and junior forward Kat Fogarty (Westminster, Mass.) 11 points and six rebounds.

Down 37-29 at halftime, the Wildcats roared back and outscored their hosts 48-30 in the second half. It was all even at 50-50 after three periods and UNH cranked up the defense and took charge in the fourth.

The Wildcats ran their record for the season to 6-2. Siena fell to 2-5.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats play Yale at home in Lundholm Gymnasium on Sunday, Dec. 18 to open a three-game home-stand. They play Sacred Heart at home Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. and Central Connecticut State on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m. After a Christmas break, they play Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Manhattan College at 7 p.m.

Individual and group tickets for UNH home games may be purchased at www.unhwildcats.com, by calling 603-862-4000 or at the Whittemore Center box office.

HIGHLIGHTS

Lai scored 16 of her 25 points in the second half and 11 of them in the fourth quarter. She also had five rebounds and three assists. She has scored 25, 19 and 19 points in the last three games.
Pogue and Fogarty each had six rebounds to lead the Wildcats.

Junior guard Peyton Booth (Wadsworth, Ohio) had a season-high eight points - one shy of her career-best - and they all came in the fourth quarter. She made a career-high two three-pointers that were key down the stretch.

Senior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) had a season-high six assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The teams played to a 16-16 tie in the first quarter. The Saints pulled away in the second period behind the shooting of Jackie Benitez. She had all 14 of her first half points in the second quarter.

Siena outscored UNH 21-13 in the second period to open a 37-29 lead at the halftime break.

Pogue led UNH with 10 points in the first half and Lai was closed behind with nine on three-for-four shooting on three-pointers.

No Wildcat had more than two rebounds in the first half and they were getting beat on the boards, 20-12.

UNH had a 21-13 edge in the third period to leave it tied at 50-50 with one period to play.

The Wildcats owned the third. At 57-57, Lai stole the ball and raced down the floor and put in a contested layup and was fouled. She made the foul shot and UNH never trailed.

Booth scored eight of the next 10 Wildcat points and they were on their way.

UNH STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS)

Jr. G Peyton Booth (8/26)
Jr. C Carlie Pogue (8/45)
Jr. F Kat Fogarty (8/8)
Jr. G Brittni Lai (8/8)
Jr. G Aliza Simpson (8/57)

GROUP'S RECORD: 6-2

SERIES INFO

UNH evened the series at 4-4.

WILDCAT NOTES

UNH had only seven turnovers in the game, two in the second half.
The Wildcats made six of their 12 three-point attempts.
Lai was three-for-five behind the arc.
She made eight of her 11 foul shots.
Booth made both of her three-point shots.
Sophomore forward Ashley Storey (Cumberland, Maine) had six points off the bench.
She made three of her four field goals.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

UNH

Carlie Pogue: 18 points / 6 rebounds
Brittni Lai: 25 points / 5 rebounds
Kat Fogarty: 11 points / 6 rebounds
Peyton Booth: 8 points / 3 assists

Siena

Jackie Benitez: 14 points / 6 rebounds
Meghan Donohue: 18 points / 9 rebounds