Blazer Women Come Up Short In NECC Semifinals

BROOKELINE, Mass. – The Elms College women's basketball team came up just short of a berth in the New England Collegiate Conference championship game on Thursday, falling at top-seeded Newbury College 61-53.

Elms and Newbury were tied after the first and second quarters before the Blazers took a two-point, 43-41 advantage into the fourth quarter.  Newbury, however, made a strong push in the fourth quarter, outscoring Elms 20-10 in the final 10 minutes to advance to Saturday's championship game.

Mackenzie Larochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) scored 21 points and added four rebounds to lead fourth-seeded Elms. She hit 6-of-7 free throws and 7-of-20 from the field. Kayla Soto (New Britian, Conn.) added 11 points and seven boards for Elms, and Niah Pantry (New Haven, Conn.) grabbed 16 rebounds for the Blazers.

Newbury held a slim edge on the glass, 50-49, in the game while Elms won the turnover battle, 17-19. The biggest difference in the game was shooting. Elms shot just 27.9 percent from the field and 1-of-10 from 3-point range while Newbury hit 5-of-15 3s and shot 32.3 percent overall.

Jaymesha Sanders led Newbury with 18 points and 18 rebounds. Savannah Olsen added 11 points and 17 boards for the Nighthawks as the duo combined for 35 of Newbury's 50 rebounds in the game.

Elms ends its season at 11-16 overall. Newbury enters the NECC championship game at 19-7.

2018 NECC All-Tournament Team

Elms College - Mackenzie LaRochelle (Sr.)

Mitchell College - Francesca Pinard (Jr.)

Newbury College - Jaymesha Sanders (Fr.)

Newbury College - Savannah Olsen (Jr.)

Becker College - Ciara McKissick (Jr.)

Becker College - Tournament MVP Cassidy Harrison (So.)