Strong Second Half Propels Women's Basketball Past Becker

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College women's basketball team came out with the win Thursday evening defeating Becker College, 67-56, in conference action. With the win the Blazers rise to 10-10 on the season and 9-4 in the conference, while the Hawks fall to 5-15 overall and 4-9 in the NECC.

Elms started off hot with Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) ringing in a quick three to set the pace of the contest at the 8:09 mark. Alexandra Marques (Newington, Conn.) would follow bringing home two off the backboard to give the Blazers an early 5-0 lead. Gabrielle Gallo (Northport, N.Y.) shot back for the Hawks producing a layup of her own only to have JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) respond with a double out the other way. After a Ciara McKissick (Charlton, Mass.) offensive rebound and swift put-back the Hawks closed down the deficit and created a one point game. After a one and done free throw off the hands of Katey Anderson Becker was able to match Elms score 7-7. Mariah Brown (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) continued to press on the offensive end for Elms each securing a quick two to widen the gap. With 14 seconds remaining the Hawks were able to ring in a jumper off the hands of Marissa Turner (Coventry, RI.) which ended the quarter on an 11-10 Elms tally.

Becker fired first at the start of the second with Anderson blasting a deep three within the first 40 seconds to give the Hawks their first lead of the contest. An Adrianna Dowdy (East Haven, Conn.) foul sent Erin O'Donnell (Glenmont, N.Y.) to the charity stripe to pick up one for Elms. Turner fired back with a jumper for Becker keeping their lead alive. As play ensued Brown forced a turnover and picked up the steal to storm down the court for an easy layup shaping things up to a one point contest once again. From there Becker would go on a four point stint off the hands of Gallo and Espino that created at 14-19 match at the 4:42 tally. As time progressed Kayla Aberdale (Housatonic, Mass.) rang in her first three of the night closing Elms deficit to three. As tensions rose another Brown steal saw the floor which she quickly dished off to LaRochelle for a quick double notching the score 21-21. Brown and Aberdale continued to fire down the stretch as Brown scooped an offensive rebound to put back two before Aberdale secured her second three of the evening. Gallo answered with a jumper for Becker aiming to keep their advantage heading into the locker room, however as play continued both squads fought hard to end the second with a tied 28-28 scoreboard.

Out of the Locker room Burr started hot for the Blazers picking up a steal off of Becker's first possession and dishing it to Pickett for the double giving Elms the lead. Marques would follow finding the glass for two before McKissick responded with a layup of her own for Becker. From there Elms would go on a ten point stint led by Marques with five tallies. McKissick would rally for the Hawks posting up for two before Aberdale's third three of the night rang high in Picknelly arena producing the energy Elms would harness to finish out as they surged ahead obtaining ten more tallies within the last two minutes of the quarter upping their lead to 53-36 to start the fourth.

In an effort to keep hope for the Hawks alive Espino came out big for Becker netting a deep three within the first minute of the quarter in an aim to spark a run. Maira Pantoja posted a three of her own challenging the Hawks who then replied by dishing out a bounce pass to Gallo for a double in the paint. Erin Gaudette then added to Becker's score as her deep three found its home creating a 57-46 tally. Marques and LaRochelle went back to back posting doubles for the Blazer squad to maintain the Elms lead. Although the Hawks fought back at the charity stripe with sinkers off the hands of Espino and Dowdy the Blazers walked away with the win as they nursed an eventual 67-56 lead.

The Blazers were paced by LaRochelle coming off the bench to total a game high 15 points going 5-for-10 on the floor and 2-for-4 in the three point zone. Pickett secured a double – double totaling 11 points and 12 rebounds for Elms. 

The Hawks were paced by game McKissick tallying 13 points and 13 rebounds. Gallo also secured a double- double for the Hawks tallying 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Blazers totaled 40.9% from the field (27-66), including 31.8% from the three-point line (7-22), and 37.5% from the foul line (6-16). Becker shot 37.3% from the floor (19-51), 30.0% from three point range (3-10), and 62.5% from the foul line (15-24).

The Blazers will travel to Lesley for a conference matchup Thursday, February 10^th at 8:00 p.m. The Hawks will host Lesley February 6^th   at 3:00p.m.

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