Women's Basketball Advances to Championship of 2006 Blazers Tip-Off Tournament
ELMS COLLEGE ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP
OF 2006 BLAZERS TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT
CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 17, 2006 - Elms College freshman guard Ally Wanat (West Springfield, MA) netted a team-high 18 points and the Blazers placed three players in double figures to post a thrilling 74-72 win over MCLA in the non-conference women's basketball season opener for both teams in the first round of the 2006 Blazers Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night at the Maguire Center.
With the win, the Blazers (0-1) advance to Saturday afternoon's 3:00 p.m. championship game to face Western Connecticut State University - a 61-15 winner over Newbury in Friday night's other first round game.
MCLA will play Newbury in Saturday's 1:00 p.m. third place game.
In Elms College's win over MCLA, the Blazers led 23-12 midway through the first half before the visiting Trailblazers used a 24-14 run over the final 9:37 to pull to within 37-36 at intermission.
Wanat converted on a rare four-point play 6:23 into the second half after she knocked down a 3-pointer and ensuing free throw after being fouled to give the Blazers what stood as their largest lead of the second half - 52-46.
MCLA answered with an 11-5 run over the next 4:58 capped off by a pair of free throws by senior guard Kristen Lewis (Johnsonville, NY) that knotted the game at 57-57.
Sophomore guard Jenn Payton (Stratford, CT) drained a pair of free throws with 58 seconds remaining to seal the Blazers' victory.
MCLA placed four players in double figures, led by freshman forward Laura Silverman's (Ballston Lake, NY) game-high 19-point, 14-rebound performance. Junior forward Meredith Sullivan (Lanesboro, MA) scored 14 points, Lewis tallied 12 and freshman guard Ali Leveille (Southampton, MA) added 11 to all reach double figures for MCLA in the loss.
Payton tallied 15 points and sophomore forward Paige Schneider (Windsor, CT) added 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Blazers in the winning effort.