McKenna’s 21 Points Lead Dartmouth to Victory at UNH

Friday, December 21

Durham, N.H.

11:00 AM

Dartmouth College

6-5

New Hampshire

3-9

Dartmouth

New Hampshire

McKenna’s 21 Points Lead Dartmouth to Victory at UNH

12/21/2018 1:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photos by Jess Speechley

Dartmouth captures the New Hampshire State Championship for the second straight year

By: Mike Miezejeski

DURHAM, N.H. – Annie McKenna poured in a career-high 21 points on 8-13 shooting and 3-5 from deep to lead Dartmouth (6-5) to a 62-42 win over New Hampshire (3-9) Friday morning in Durham at Lundholm Gym. This marks the second consecutive year that the Big Green have defeated their in-state rival. Dartmouth improves to 6-1 while playing in New England.

Cy Lippold was also in double figures for the Big Green with 11 points to along with five assists and four rebounds. Paula Lenart posted nine points and five rebounds, while Anna Luce led the game with a career-high 10 rebounds.

"It took us six years to finally beat UNH on their home court, it means a lot to us to win these rivalry games," Said Belle Koclanes, the Gail Koziara Boudreaux '82 and Family Head Coach of Women's Basketball. "It's exciting for this group to get this win and we want to keep building and continue to get better. Annie played great and our defense stepped up today."

After missed baskets from both teams to start the game, early offense kicked in for each side. Lippold got it started with a deep three and the Wildcats answered back with a quick triple and a two to take a 5-3 lead before McKenna drained her first long ball to put Dartmouth back on top. The Big Green began to pull away, McKenna got a bucket in the paint and Paula Lenart converted an and-one to complete an 8-0 run, extending the lead to 11-5 midway through the first. UNH pulled to within two, but Dartmouth got baskets from Elle Louie and Luce to take a 15-10 advantage at the end of the quarter.

Defense took over in the second. It took until 8:04 on the clock for McKenna to pick up the first points for either side. Dartmouth didn't score again until the 5:40 mark when Asha Taylor extended the lead to 19-10. UNH finally broke into the Big Green pressure and scored its first bucket of the second with 4:23 remaining in the half. Dartmouth closed the half on a 12-5 run, getting a corner three from Katie Douglas in the process, to take a 31-18 halftime lead.

Lenart got the first points of the third just 39 seconds into the half to make it a 33-18 advantage. The Wildcats then found their groove and went on a 6-0 run to pull it to a nine-point game with 6:22 left in the third. Dartmouth responded with a 10-3 run of its own over the next four minutes to go back ahead, 43-27. UNH outscored Dartmouth 4-1 over the next four minutes before Lippold gave the Big Green momentum with a triple before the buzzer to give Dartmouth a 47-32 lead at the end of the third.

Lippold opened the fourth with another three that was followed by a triple from McKenna to push the lead to 53-32, putting the game away. McKenna sank her third 3-pointer of the day with 3:36 on the clock to get her total to 21 points, marking the first 20-point game in her career. For the second time in the last three games, Dartmouth put all five freshmen in the game together as the clock winded down.

The Big Green will head home for the holidays before their next contest at Boston College. Game time is at 2 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Mass.