MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Sophomore guards Jasmine Day-Cox and Kamryn Porter put up a career-high in points with 18 each as a five-point second quarter from Post University Women's Basketball in its season opener against Southern New Hampshire University at the Saint Anselm Challenge would be the difference maker in their 68-55 defeat on Friday afternoon.

THE BASICS

Post University 55, Southern New Hampshire University 68

Post University (0-1)
 
Southern New Hampshire University (1-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED 
For the entire duration of the game, Post would only pull even once, coming in the opening minutes as junior forward Alyssa Rossignol's jumper with 8:22 left in the first tied things up at two all. Sophomore guard Taylor Brennan and senior forward Meghan Gordon would proceed to lead a 5-0 run for the Penmen, putting them back ahead by five, 7-2, as the closest the Eagles would get the rest of the way would be 16-15 at the end of the first frame on a free throw from sophomore forward McKensi Forde. 

Minus the second quarter, Post finished the game having outscored Southern New Hampshire by one, 50-49, as they were outscored by a 19-5 margin in that second frame, which featured a 12-0 run to end it by the Penmen after the Eagles got within three points, 23-20, on a jumper by Day-Cox with 5:19 remaining. As a team, Post's offense shot 2-for-18 (11.1%) overall, including 1-for-12 (8.3%) from three, and missed all three of their free throws. In contrast, the Penmen went 50% from the floor with a 7-for-14 mark, draining 2-of-7 (28.5%) from long range, and hitting 3-of-4 (75%) free throws.

After going up by 15 points, 35-20, at halftime, the lead never shrank below eight points for the Penmen as four players finished in double figures for them en route to the double-digit victory, 68-55. Gordon led the way with 15 points on 7-for-17 shooting (41.1%), and was followed by junior guard Ava Winterburn with 14 points, as well as both Brennan and graduate forward Sydnie DeVries with 10 points each. Those four players combined to shoot 19-for-45 (42.2%) for a Southern New Hampshire squad that finished at 37.5% as a team when all was set and done. 

Responsible for over half of their points combined, Day-Cox and Porter were 14-for-29 (48.2%) with 36 of the 55 points for the Eagles, making 2-of-11 threes (18.1%), and hitting on 6-of-12 (50%) of their free throws. The other five Post players who entered the game accounted for only seven field goals, two threes, and three free throws made as the team finished 31.3% from the floor, 15.4% from three-point land, and 50% from the charity stripe (9-for-18). 

BY THE NUMBERS   

• Jasmine Day-Cox and Kamryn Porter each finished with 18 points, combining to go 14-for-29 (48.2%) from the floor -- The 18 points were a career-high for both players in only their second seasons
• Four players finished in double figures for Southern New Hampshire University, led by Meghan Gordon with 15 points, Ava Winterburn (14 points), Taylor Brennan (10 points), and Sydnie DeVries (10 points) were the other three Penmen to eclipse double digits
• In the last three seasons, Post University has dropped its season opener, with the previous two coming in neutral-site games on the road against Southern New Hampshire University
• Post University is now 1-11 all-time against Southern New Hampshire after earning its first win in program history against the Penmen during the 2023-24 season at home, 57-51

WHO'S NEXT 
Post University closes out the Saint Michael's Tip-Off Tournament tomorrow evening against Saint Michael's College at 7:00 PM in Colchester, Vermont. Winning 73-61 against the Purple Knights on the road last season marked the first time in program history that the Eagles had beaten Saint Michael's, having lost the previous three matchups between the two squads.