Worcester, Mass. – Anna Maria outscored host Clark University 20-6 in the decisive third quarter and then held on for a 65-56 win over the Cougars in the consolation game of the 2015 Clark Alumni Holiday Invitational on Thursday afternoon at the Kneller Athletic Center.

The win for the AMCATS (6-5) is actually their second victory over the Scarlet and White this season, having defeated them 69-68 in Paxton on November 24.

Clark (2-9) was actually ahead 27-24 at halftime but Anna Maria was able to hold them to just one made basket and four free throws in the third period as they erased their deficit and eventually led by as many as 14 early in the fourth quarter.

Undeterred, the Cougars mounted a rally and got as close as four points when Aretha Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) embarked on a personal five point scoring streak midway through the final frame.

Anna Maria had the answer as they built the lead back to ten, highlighted by a great feed from Christina Gauvin to Sam Parker.

The Cougars continued to fight as Cori Ouellette (Madison, Conn.) came in off the bench and hit a trio of three-pointers in game's final four minutes, but in the end as Anna Maria went 18-for-21 from the charity stripe in the second half alone to secure the victory.

Clark didn't have any players in double figures but four players – Ouellete, Sam O'Gara (Worcester, Mass.), Aretha Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) and Ogechi Ezemma (Hope Valley, R.I.) - all had nine points.

Nicole Mareiro (Acushnet, Mass.) drained six three-pointers on her way to a game-high 22 points for Anna Maria, while Gauvin finished with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Both Clark's Sullivan and Anna Maria's Deja Taitt (Cambia Heights, N.Y.) were named to the all-tournament team.

Anna Maria returns to the hardwood on Tuesday with a stiff non-conference road test at Middlebury, while the Cougars are back in action on Wednesday with a trip to NEWMAC rival Wheaton.

2015 Clark Alumni Holiday Invitational All-Tournament Team
Deja Taitt, Anna Maria
Aretha Sullivan, Clark
Raegan Mulherin, Framingham State
Alycia Rackliffe, Framingham State
Gretchen Anderson, Southern Maine
Meg Pelletier, Southern Maine (MVP)