Johnson State, Hartwick Advance To Blazer Tip-Off Championship Game

JOHNSON STATE, HARTWICK ADVANCE TO
BLAZER TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Click here for directions to Elms College

Saturday, November 15
Game 1: Johnson State College defeats Elms College, 64-61  Box score
Game 2: Hartwick College defeats MCLA, 79-66  Box score

Sunday, November 16
2:00 p.m. Consolation Game: MCLA vs. Elms College
4:00 p.m. Championship Game: Johnson State vs. Hartwick

* - An award ceremony will follow immediately following the conclusion of the
championship game.

CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 21, 2008 - Johnson State senior guard Casey Rusin (Wilmington, VT) scored a team-high 18 points and Hartwick senior guard Katie Caddell (Amsterdam, NY) netted a team-high 12 points to lead their teams to the championship game of the Blazer Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Elms College.

Johnson State held on for a 64-61 victory over Elms College in Friday night's opening game, and Hartwick followed with a 79-66 victory in the second game.

Johnson State (2-0) and Hartwick (1-2) now advance to Saturday' 4:00 p.m. championship game. Elms College (0-3) and MCLA (1-1) will play in the 2:00 p.m. consolation game.

JOHNSON STATE 64, ELMS COLLEGE 61

Johnson State overcame a 27-26 deficit and led 62-59 with 1:13 remaining following a pair of free throws by junior center Claudia Martineau (Washington, VT).

Elms College freshman guard Christina Korney (Feeding Hills, MA) answered with a jumper to cut the Blazers' deficit to 62-61 with 25 seconds remaining.

Elms College forced a turnover on Johnson State's ensuing possession, but could not convert. Senior guard Jenna Lewis (Middlebury, VT) followed with a pair of free throws to extend the Badgers' lead to 64-61 with 5 seconds remaining.

The Blazers had one final chance to tie the game, but could not get off a shot as time expired.

Freshman forward Ashley Bryce (Cambridge, VT) finished with 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting, while Lewis added 12 points for the Badgers in the winning effort.

Junior center Amanda Brogna (Oxford, MA) led the Blazers for the third straight game, as she registered her second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Korney added a collegiate career-high 11 points and senior forward Paige Schneider (Windsor, CT) finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

HARTWICK 79, MCLA 66

Despite shooting 54.2-percent in the first half, MCLA found itself down 40-33 at intermission.

Hartwick's defense converted 27 MCLA turnovers into 29 points. The Hawks also held a 24-12 scoring advantage in the paint.

Sophomore guard Molly Broda (Southampton, MA) and freshman guard Alie Dobrovolc (Little Falls, NY) combined for 36 of MCLA's 66 points, as each netted 18 points apiece in the losing effort.

Despite having just one player (Caddell) reach double figures, the Hawks had 13 players reach the scoring column.

Junior guard Lauren Ploof (Hammond, NY) netted nine points, while senior guard Kara Foro (Schnectady, NY), sophomore forward Brooke Anderson (Hopkinton, MA) and junior guard Heather Pruchansky (Naples, FL) all finished with eight points apiece to pace the Hawks in the victory.