Simmons College Outlasts Women’s Basketball To Win Blazer Tip-Off Tournament, 66-62
CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore guard Jen Normandie (Westford, Mass.) netted a collegiate-career high 26 points but Simmons College's Emily Thomas (Cheshire, Conn.) poured in a game-high 27 points and was named most valuable player to help the Sharks claim the 2010 Blazer Tip-Off women's basketball tournament with a 66-62 victory on Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena.
With the loss, Elms moves to 1-2 on the season while Simmons remains undefeated at 3-0 overall.
Johnson State earned its first victory of the season with a 63-58 win over Bard College in the consolation game. The Badgers improve to 1-2 overall while the Raptors fall to 0-3 on the season.
Simmons 66, Elms 62
Trailing by seven at intermission (29-22) Simmons outscored Elms 44-33 in the second half as Thomas led three Sharks in double figures. Brittany Dolloff (Hollis, N.H.) finished with 16 points, three steals and six rebounds while Liz O'Connor (Milton, Mass.) added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Alex Acloque (Randolph, Mass.) was strong on the glass collecting nine of her game-best 10 rebounds on defense.
Normandie was 10 of 16 from the field and connected on 6 of 7 from the free throw line in addition to hauling in nine rebounds to lead the Blazers. Junior forward Erika Murphy (Torrington, Conn.) netted 11 points and added four steals, while freshman guard Mariah Petty (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) delivered an eight-point four-steal effort off the bench.
Johnson State 63, Bard 58
The Badgers received a game-high 24-point effort from Andrea Deuell (Milton, Vt.) who also added five assists in Johnson State's first victory of the 2010 campaign. Macy Lavoie (Swanton, Vt.) and Jennifer Ferrari (Westfield, Mass.) registered 11 points apiece in the win, while Ferrari totaled a team-best 16 rebounds, nine of which came on the offensive boards.
Deuell was 8 of 22 from the field, 4 of 12 from beyond the arc and 4 of 7 at the stripe en route to her 24 points.
Bard's Latiqua Williams (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was impressive on both ends of the floor pulling down a staggering 23 rebounds (11 offense, 12 defense) and netting a team-high 13 points.
Keila Brown (Atlanta, Ga.) and Victoria Fleisher (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 12 and 10 points respectively to round out the Raptors' top performers in the contest.
All Tournament Team
Emily Thomas, Simmons – MVP
Alex Acloque, Simmons
Jen Normandie, Elms
Erika Murphy, Elms
Jennifer Ferrari, Johnson State
Latiqua Williams, Bard
