Newbury College Bests Women’s Basketball, 70-63 – Blazers Earn Second Seed in 2012-13 NECC Championship Tournament

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College sophomore forward Denisha Parks (Fall River, Mass.) netted a game-high 28 points and a team-best 14 rebounds, but Newbury College's Catherine O'Connell (Quincy, Mass.) connected for a team-high 22 points and a game-high 19 rebounds as the Nighthawks posted a 70-63 victory in Saturday afternoon's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) women's basketball game at Picknelly Arena.

With the loss, Elms concludes its regular season 15-10 overall, 14-4 in conference play and have earned the second seed in the 2012-13 NECC Championship Tournament. Newbury finishes the regular season 15-10 overall, 13-5 in NECC action and have secured the third seed in the postseason tournament.

The NECC Championship bracket is as follows:
Tuesday, February 19
No. 7 Mitchell College at No. 2 Elms College – 7:00 p.m. 
No. 6 Becker College at No. 3 Newbury College
No. 5 Bay Path College at No. 4 Daniel Webster College  

Friday, February 23 (Games played at Regis College)
Winner 5/4 game at No. Regis - 6:00 p.m. 
Winner 6/3 game vs. winner 7/2 game - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 23 (game played at Regis College)
Championship Game - 2:00 p.m.

Elms was led by Parks who hit on 11 of 22 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free throw line in addition to pulling down 14 rebounds. Sophomore forward JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) was equally effective on the glass for the Blazers, securing 13 rebounds as Elms edged Newbury, 50-48 in the category.

Junior guard Ellen Donohue (Southington, Conn.) was terrific in directing Elms' attack dishing out five assists and netted 16 points of her own. Freshman guard Jenna Oyler (Metuchen, N.J.) chipped in seven points and four helpers off the bench but the Nighthawks held the Blazers' reserves in check, winning that battle 27-8.

Catherine O'Connell swished 9 of 13 shots from the field en route to 22 points and grabbed 12 defensive boards to highlight 19 total rebounds.

Alex Pezzella (Rockland, Mass.) drained 17 points including three three-pointers in 21 minutes off the bench for Newbury, while Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.) contributed eight points, followed by seven from Nicole Silvia (Berkley, Mass.).

Katie Hanley (Winchendon, Mass.) added eight boards in the winning effort.