SCHENECTADY, N.Y., December 13, 2005 - Springfield College senior center Erin Schwartz (Milford, Conn.) scored a team-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor while pulling down seven rebounds, but it was Union College which defeated the No. 24 Pride, 73-51, in the first-ever meeting between the two program's on Tuesday evening, December 13, at the Viniar Athletic Center in Schenectady, N.Y.
After SC opened the contest with a 12-8 lead with 10:33 to go in the first half, the Dutchwomen (2-3) went on a 29-6 run to close the stanza with a 37-18 edge. Senior guard Erika Eisenhut led Union with a game-high 17 points to go along with five steals. Union's Krystal Hammond added 14 points in the victory.
In the second half, the Pride shot 63.2 percent from the floor, but in the end Union was too much, as the Dutchwomen scored 18 points off SC turnovers in the contest, while also outscoring the Pride in second chance points (13-7) and fast break points (8-0). The Dutchwomen also received 21 points from their bench, as SC could only muster 14 bench points.
Sophomore guard Tara McCarthy (Bristol, R.I.) was the only other Pride in double figures along with Schwartz, scoring 10 points. Junior point guard LaToya Franklin (Latham, N.Y.) added seven rebounds in the affair.
SC falls to 5-3 overall with the loss and will next host Bates College in the opening round of the 2006 Holiday Inn-Naismith Classic in Blake Arena at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 1.
Entering her 22nd season as head coach in 2012-13, Naomi Graves has directed her squads to an impressive 306-156 record (.662 winning percentage) since joining the Division III ranks in 1995. Graves has led the Pride to 12 post-season bids in the past 17 years, including five berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
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