Vallee's high-scoring efforts lift Sage to 71-60 win over Green Mountain

November 19, 2011

Vallee's high-scoring efforts lift Sage to 71-60 win over Green Mountain

New London, NH--- The Sage Colleges women's basketball team scored 51 first half points en route to a 71-60 victory over Green Mountain in the first of two games at the 2011 Colby-Sawyer women's basketball tip-off classic on Saturday afternoon.

The Gators even their record to 1-1, while Green Mountain also pulls even on the season at 1-1.

The Gators will play tournament host, Colby-Sawyer, on Sunday at 3:00 pm. Green Mountain plays Maine-Machias on Sunday at 1:00 pm.

Sage was led by a junior guard Carly Vallee (East Greenbush, NY/Catholic Central). She scored 16 points on 6-7 shooting, which included 4-5 from beyond the arc. She was just one shy of tying her personal best with her performance on Saturday afternoon. Senior guard Sarah Carciobolo (Niskayuna, NY/South Colonie) added 13 points, five rebounds, and a game-high four steals. Rookie guard Megan Bowman (Saranac, NY/Saranac) rounded out the Gator's double-figure scorers with 12.

Green Mountain's Chanleigh Casey (Hartford, N.Y.) led all players with 22 points and 15 rebounds. She was 8-13 from the floor and 6-6 from the free throw line. Junior Jacque Caster (Seneca Falls, N.Y.) scored 16 points, while senior Millicent Hopper (Gouverneur, N.Y.) added 12 points and eight boards.

Sage controlled the tempo in the first half and forced 13 Green Mountain turnovers, which resulted in a 23-0 edge in points off turnovers. The Gators had nine different players score in the first 20 minutes and shot 54.5 percent from beyond the arc. Green Mountain's Chanleigh Casey (Hartford, N.Y.) led all players with 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Eagles, who went 13-17 from the free throw line in the first half, were down as much as 28 and trailed 51-28 at the break.

The second half was the opposite of the first, as Green Mountain closed the gap with hot shooting. After Sage increased its lead to 32 early in the second, the Eagles began to chip away. The Gators made six baskets in the second, while Green Mountain was 13-26 from the floor.