MCLA Defeats Elms 69-59 In Women's Basketball Blazer Tip-Off Tournament

Consolation Game: Simmons College defeats Johnson State, 74-52 Box Score
Championship Game: Mass. College of Liberal Arts defeats Elms College 69-59 Box Score

Chicopee, Mass. - Simmons College's Jessica Thomas (East Sandwich, Mass.), Julianna Eagles (Qunicy, Mass.) and Stephanie Fox (West Springfield, Mass.) all scored 16 points en route to a 74-52 victory over Johnson State in the 2009 women's basketball Blazer Tip-Off Tournament. In the championship game, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' (MCLA) Molly Broda (Southampton, Mass.) scored 14 points to pace the Trailblazers to a 69-59 victory over Elms College.  The Blazers' Carolyn Talmadge (Wilbraham, Mass.) led all scorers with 16 points.

Simmons College 74, Johnson State 52

Simmons and Johnson were tied at five in the early going before two free throws from Liz O’Connor (Milton, Mass.) capped off a 10 point run to put Simmons ahead. Simmons did not look back as they extended their lead to 20 with seven minutes left to go in the first half. Stephanie Fox (West Springfield, Mass.) led all scorers in the first half with 11 points. The second half was dominated by Simmons as Johnson State never lowered the deficit beyond 16 points. As the game concluded, Simmons sailed to a victory, winning by a margin of 22 points.

Simmons had a three-pronged offensive attack as Jessica Thomas (East Sandwich, Mass.) Julianna Eagles (Qunicy, Mass.) and Fox each scored 16 points for the Sharks.

Simmons College held Johnson State to just 28 percent from the field.

Johnson State’s offensive bright spots came from Maria Gleason (Enosburg, V.T.) as she dropped 12 points and Lauren Lepage (Rumford, Maine) who added 10 points for the Badgers.

MCLA 69, Elms College 59

Elms College’s Carolyn Talmadge (Wilbraham, Mass.) scored a game-high 16 points, but it was MCLA’s clutch play down the stretch that gave them the victory in the Blazer Tip-off Tournament on Saturday at Picknelly Arena.

With the loss, Elms drops their first game of the season falling to 1-1 early in the season, while the win propels MCLA to a 3-0 start.

Neither team seemed to gain an advantage in the first half as the lead changed eight different times, and was tied on six different occasions. The biggest advantage for either side was a mere four point advantage by MCLA. The end of the half ended on a strong note for the Blazers as Katie Condon (Sandy Hook, Conn.) hit a three pointer to give Elms a one point advantage going into halftime, 26-25.

In the second half MCLA jumped out to a nine point advantage only to have Elms storm back, capping off an 8-0 run with an Annie Dunnack (Mansfield Center, Conn.) jumper. The battle continued as MCLA saw themselves down by two with just under five minutes to play before a basket by Wehner, starting an 11-0 run that Elms was unable to climb back from. Up by nine, MCLA was able to sustain for the duration of the game beating Elms College by the final score 69-59.

Leading the Blazers was Talmadge with 16 points, while Amanda Brogna netted 11 points and brought down six rebounds. Dunnack grabbed seven boards in the losing effort.

The offense for MCLA was led by Molly Broda (Southampton, Mass.) as she put in 14 points. Perks and Laura Silverman (Clifton Park, N.Y.) both scored 12 in the winning effort. Wehner was a beast on the boards with 13 rebounds.

2009 Women's Basketball Blazer Tip-Off All-Tournament Team

Most Valuable Player:
Jen Wehner (MCLA) netted a total of 29 points and 25 boards for the tournament.

All Tournament Players:

Hilary Perks (MCLA), Carolyn Talmadge (Elms), Amanda Brogna (Elms), Stephanie Fox (Simmons), Maria Gleason (Johnson State)

The Blazers hit the road next as they visit Smith College on Tuesday, Nov. 24 in Northampton, Mass.