Women's Basketball Holds Off Lesley, 65-58
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HOLDS OFF LESLEY, 65-58
CHICOPEE, MA, Jan. 9, 2007 - Elms College freshman forward Amanda Brogna (Oxford, MA) and sophomore guard Jenn Payton (Stratford, CT) poured in a season-high 20 points apiece and the Blazers built a seven-point halftime lead then held on to earn a 65-58 win over Lesley University in Tuesday night's North Atlantic Conference (NAC) women's basketball game at the Maguire Center.
With the win, Elms College snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 4-7 overall, 2-2 NAC. Lesley lost for the eighth time in its last nine games as it fell to 3-8 overall, 1-6 NAC.
Brogna and Payton each erupted for 16 points apiece after intermission for the Blazers, who built a 26-19 lead at intermission.
Brogna finished 9 of 11 from the field and Payton added 10 rebounds for the game's only double-double.
Elms College held a decisive 42-18 scoring advantage in the paint and also outscored Lesley 13-4 on second chance points in Tuesday night's victory.
Lesley, which was limited to just 19-percent shooting in the opening half, battled back and had three players finish in double figures, led by junior guard Courtnie Leakeas' (Lowell, MA) game-high 21-point effort.
Sophomore forward Kelly Harrington (Toledo, OH) finished with 11 points and senior center Christine Buchanan (Nantucket, MA) added 10 for the Lynx in the losing effort.
Elms College returns to NAC play when it hosts the University of Maine-Farmington on Friday, January 12. Game time is 6:00 p.m. at the Maguire Center.