NHTI moves on to face CMCC on back of Deoleo's 33 points

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine- The #3-ranked New Hampshire Technical College (NHTI) defeated #2 Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) 64-47 in the semi-final game of the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) Elite Eight Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 18. 

SMCC's senior Jennifer Conrad (Monmouth, Maine) finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. 

NHTI's Riselly Deoleo (Manchester, N.H.) came to play leading all scorers in the game with 33, and improving on her YSCC third-best points-per-game total (15.0); she collected 12 rebounds and 3 steals in a dominant performance. Shannon Hart (Swanzey, N.H.) pulled down 10 rebounds in 35 minutes on the floor.  

NHTI tallied a 11-3 run to begin the game. SMCC stopped the bleeding closing its deficit to three points coming out of the second quarter. Much to do with Deoleo's 12 points and 50 percent shooting in the first half, the Lynx found themselves sporting a 31-21 lead at the half. 

NHTI put together this biggest quarter of the game posting 22 points in the third. As the clock wore on the Lynx played stifling defense, limiting SMCC to its lowest point total of the season and 23.5 percent from the floor. 

The Lynx will advance to the championship game to take on Central Maine Community College on Sunday, Feb. 19. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. at the HUB Gymnasium.

Stay tuned for the release of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournament bids on Tuesday, Feb. 21.