Box Score WORCESTER, MA – Senior guard Ashley Rath poured in a career-high 36 points, but The College of Saint Rose women's basketball team was unable to pull off the upset bid as host Assumption College held on for a 63-60 Northeast-10 Conference victory over the Golden Knights tonight at Laska Gymnasium.

Rath became the first Saint Rose player to eclipse 35 points in five years (Mary Lewis '07). She finished 12-of-19 from the floor and knocked down eight, 3-pointers while hauling in five boards in 40 minutes of action. Meanwhile, senior forward Ali Johnson registered her ninth career “double-double” behind 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Greyhounds (8-0/6-0 NE-10), who entered the contest ranked #14 in the latest USA Today ESPN Division II Poll, received 18 points apiece from senior forward Kelly Meredith and junior guard Katy Howard.

Assumption virtually led wire-to-wire, although Rath provided the Golden Knights with a 7-4 edge via a trey just more than two minutes into the contest when her shooting barrage began. Meredith converted a layup at the other end and then Howard buried a 'three' of her own on the next possession to jumpstart an 18-4 run that put the Greyhounds up 11, 22-11 midway through the first half.

Assumption still maintained a double-digit lead at the break, but Saint Rose stormed out of the locker room with a 17-6 jaunt to knot things 42-42 with 10 minutes to go. Johnson and senior guard Ola Shajuyigbe accounted for all but two points for the Golden Knights during the outburst. Rath finally punctuated things with a pair of free throws.

Unfortunately, Saint Rose was unable to clear the final hurdle. The Greyhounds boosted their cushion back to eight, 53-45, after junior guard Gabrielle Gibson put the finishing touches on an 11-3 run with a layup off her own missed 3-pointer.

The Golden Knights did not go quietly thanks to Rath, who tossed in four deep balls over the last five minutes to make it a 61-60 ballgame with six seconds remaining. However, Howard sealed things with two free throws and Saint Rose was unable to get a clear look at the buzzer.

The Golden Knights return to action this Saturday when they host American International College in a league date. Tip-off is set for 1:30 pm at the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium. Meanwhile, Assumption has 11 days to prepare for a 1:30 pm road contest at Pace University on Saturday, December 17.