Women's Basketball Downs Daniel Webster

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team surged ahead Tuesday evening to defeat Daniel Webster College, 70-63, in conference action. With the win the Blazers rise to 8-10 on the season and 7-4 in the conference, while the Eagles fall to 7-11 overall and 5-6 in the NECC.

Play opened up steady for the Eagles as Jillian Gilman (Weare, N.H) started the match off with an easy two after a bounce pass from the hands of Briana Diggs (Washington, D.C) found its way. The Blazers fired back immediately ringing home an Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) deep three to set the pace of the night. Burr would then start on a five point run gaining an easy layup followed by a bonus basket after an Amanda Dargie (Melbourne, Fla.)  foul sent her to the charity stripe. The Eagles then took control firing off a seven point stint led by Ashley England's (Old Town, Maine.)  three point contribution. At the 2:17 mark Kayla Aberdale (Housatonic, Mass.) fired off a three of her own to close Elm's deficit to a one point contest followed by a Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) bucket to give the Blazers their first lead of the night. With a minute remaining Alexandra Marques( Newington, Conn.) forced a turnover in favor of the Blazers and easily dished it out to Burr whose jump shot was able to bump Elm's lead to 16-13 to close out the first.

The Blazers started out solid in the second once again opening with a Burr layup 14 seconds into the quarter. A Diggs offensive rebound would contribute to an easy put back for Daniel Webster as they inched in closer on the Blazers trail shaping things up to a two point contest.  However the next four minutes would remain uneventful as neither team was able to capitalize on scoring opportunities. The Blazers broke the scoreless streak at the 6:21 mark when a LaRochelle ball found its home off the glass. A Gilman foul would send Marques to the line to sink an easy two giving Elms a 22-15 lead with six remaining in the half. Marques and England would go back to back with layups for both squads, however a Dargie three sank deep for Daniel Webster to up the scoreboard 24-20 Elms.  Gilman continued to stand as a defensive force for the Eagles collecting two back to back blocks before England capitalized on a solid three point play. Amanda Gendron (Mount Vernon, N.H.) then fired a swift two from the field giving the Eagles the upper hand once again. As the clock dwindled down it looked as though the Eagles would close out the half holding a 27-25 lead, nevertheless a buzzer beating put back off the hands of Erin O'Donnell (Glenmont, N.Y.) sent both teams into the locker room with a tied agenda.

JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) started out strong for the Blazers heading into the third forcing a foul to collect an easy double to set the tone. Marques and Burr fired off back to back layups down the stretch opening a 33-29 score. Gilman would continue on to collect yet another block tallying 14 total on the night. Pickett charged ahead going on a four point run including two bullets at the stripe charted by an easy sinker from the field.  With Elms holding onto a 37-33 lead Marques stepped into action picking up a big steal followed with an offensive rebound to secure the put back basket. The Blazers would continue on a seven point run headed by a Burr sinker from the three point zone to control the lead with a 46-35 score.  England fought back for the Eagles netting four tallies of her own to end the quarter 48-39 Elms.

Daniel Webster took control of the fourth early on netting the first five of the quarter however a Burr three kept the Blazers lead alive and well. After an aggressive surge on the court LaRochelle was able to sink four consecutive notches at the stripe enabling a 55-46 Blazer lead. Kayla Free (Quincy, Mass.) found the backboard at the 5:31 tally followed by a Gilman sinker keeping the Eagles within six.  At the 2:35 mark Elms would capture their largest lead of the contest owning a 13 point advantage that they would nurse to the final buzzer ending the night with a 70-63 score.

The Blazers were paced by Burr who totaled 23 points going 8-for-18 on the floor and 3-for-9 in the three point zone. Marques tallied her first double- double of the season totaling 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Eagles were paced by game high scorer Ashley England who totaled 24 points on the night as well as Gilman who tallied eight points, 20 rebounds, and 14 blocks.

The Blazers totaled 31.3% from the field (17-56), including 40.0% from the three-point line (4-10), and 64.9% from the foul line (24-37). Daniel Webster shot 37.5% from the floor (22-64), 16.7% from three point range (3-18), and 54.5% from the foul line (12-22).

The Blazers will host Becker College for a conference matchup Thursday, February 4^th at 6:00 p.m. The Eagles will host Mitchell February 4^th   at 5:30p.m.