Women's Basketball Powers Past Newbury

BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Elms College women's basketball team toppled host Newbury College, 73-60, in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tilt at Pappas Gymnasium at Hellenic College Thursday evening.

Senior forward Denisha Parks (Fall River, Mass.) recorded her seventh double-double of the season, netting a game-high 25 points while pulling down 11 boards as the Blazers claim the season series for the second consecutive year.

Newbury came out of the gate strong. Sophomore forward Kylie Kowalski (Wrightstown, N.J.) picked the pocket of senior guard Gianna Youngblood (Lakeville, Mass.), knocking it clear to fellow sophomore Janetis Cardona (Southbridge, Mass.) for a fast-break lay-up to put the Nighthawks up 8-4. 

The Nighthawks were rolling early on. Midway through the first half and following three straight treys – capped off by junior guard Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.) only three-pointer of the game – the Nighthawks had their largest lead of the contest, extending their lead to 19-10.

However, the Blazers answered and kept clawed away at the deficit. Coming out of a time-out and trailing by seven with under five minutes remaining on the clock in the half, Elms responded with an 8-0 run to re-claim the lead. Parks knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Blazers the 32-31 advantage heading into the locker rooms. 

Elms never looked back as they came out for the second half with a 7-2 run as momentum shifted over to opposing bench. Sophomore forward Alexandra Marques (Newington, Conn.), who recorded a double-double off the bench for the Blazers with 11 points and 13 rebounds, gave the Blazers their largest lead of the contest following a lay-up with five minutes remaining in the contest.

Senior forward J.C. Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) rounded out the Blazers in double figures netting 13 points while coming one rebound shy of a double-double, recording nine on the evening. Junior guard Mariah Brown (Windsor Locks, Conn.) chipped in, dishing out four assists.

Cardona, who was nearly flawless from the floor in the first half knocking down six-of-eight, tied her career single-game high finishing with 20 on the night. Additionally, Sandifer also tied her career single-game high, netting a team-high 22 points – 17 in the second half.

Newbury drops to 4-12 and 3-7 in the conference while Elms improves to 10-6 and 8-1 in NECC action. The Nighthawks will be back in action Saturday January 31^st when they tip-off against NECC foe Becker College looking to complete the season sweep of the Hawks. The Blazer will also be in action Saturday afternoon when they host Mitchell College, also looking to take the season series, at 4:00 p.m.