Elms College, Connecticut College Advance To Blazer Invitational Championship Game

ELMS COLLEGE, CONNECTICUT COLLEGE ADVANCE TO
BLAZER INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Click here for Elms College/MCLA box score

Click here for Connecticut College/St. Joseph's (ME) box score

CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 16, 2007 - Elms College junior forward Paige Schneider (Windsor, CT) netted a game-high 12 points and junior guard Jenn Payton (Stratford, CT) added 11 points to help the Blazers post a 60-54 non-conference women's basketball win over MCLA in Friday night's opening round of the 2007 Blazer Invitational at the Maguire Center.

Elms College (1-0) defeated MCLA in the tournament's first round for the third straight season and now advances to Saturday's 3:00 p.m. championship game to face Connecticut College, which defeated St. Joseph's (ME) 63-36 in Friday night's other first round game.

MCLA (0-1) and St. Joseph's (0-1) will meet in the consolation game at 1:00 p.m.

In the Blazers win over MCLA, Schneider and sophomore forward Amanda Brogna (Oxford, MA) netted four points apiece in the opening 3:52 as Elms College scored the game's first 11 points and led 27-19 at intermission.

MCLA, however, answered with a 12-3 run in the first 5:38 of the second half to take its first lead of the night at 31-30.

From there, the game's final 14:22 featured three ties and seven lead changes.

With the game tied at 44-44 and 6:52 remaining, sophomore guard Annie Dunnack (Mansfield Center, CT) knocked down a layup and the ensuing free throw after being fouled to convert a 3-point play and give the Blazers a 47-44 lead.

Schneider then added a layup seconds later to extend the lead to 49-44.

From there, Elms College would not trail again as it advanced to the Blazer Invitational title game for the third straight year.

Brogna finished with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

MCLA freshman guard Samantha Weber (Ganesvoort, NY) finished with 12 points and freshman guard Jessica Tietgens (Stamford, VT) added 10 points in her collegiate debut.

In the second game, senior forward Katy Serafin (Carmel, NY) and sophomore guard Kirsten Frazer (Pelham, NY) combined for 21 first half points as the Camels raced out to a 42-18 lead at intermission.

Michel finished with a game-high 16 points and Serafin added 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Camels limited the Monks to just 22.9-percent shooting for the game and held a 45-35 rebounding edge.

Sophomore guard Carolyn Freeman (Scarborough, ME) netted a team-high 11 points for St. Joseph's in the losing effort.