Pickett Notches 1,000 Point at Regis

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

WESTON, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team fell to NECC rival Regis, 69-61, Saturday afternoon. With the loss the Blazers fall to 11-11 on the season and 10-5 in the conference, while the Pride raise to 20-3 overall and 16-0 in the NECC.

Play started off slow Saturday afternoon as neither team was able to capitalize on early opportunities within the first few minutes of action, however the Blazers struck first at the 6:54 mark with Maria Pantoja (East Windsor, Conn.) connecting for a quick two off the backboard. From there Mariah Brown (Windsor Locks, Conn.) would make her way around the defensive to sink a jumper for two giving the Blazers a 4-0 lead in the first. Brittany Stone (West Bridgewater, Mass.) struck first for the Pride netting a swift layup at the 6:05 mark closing the Elms deficit. With a little over four minutes remaining in the quarter Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) connected for her first deep three of the night posting a 7-2 Elms score. The Pride would rally back with bullets from Alyssa Lampher (Princeton, Mass.) as well as Stone, eventually giving the Pride their first lead of the afternoon off of a Mikayla Murphy layup setting things up to an 11-10 scoreboard. Although the Blazers battled back the Pride started the second with a 13-12 advantage.  

As the second got underway a JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) free throw at the stripe knotted things up to a 13-13 score. From there Pickett would go on a secure a layup for the Elms squad giving them the lead. As back and forth play ensued the Pride were able to tack two more layups on the board giving them a 19-16 advantage with five minutes remaining in the quarter. At the three minute tally Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) and Heather Bailey (Williamstown, VT.) made back to back jumpers hoping to go into the locker room with the benefit, however the Pride went on a 6-2 run within the last minute of action to post a 31-26 score at the half.

As the third got underway the Pride struck first with a Stone layup nine seconds into the quarter. Elms fired back with a Burr connection which was then ensued by an Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington, Mass.) tally for the Pride. At the 8:05 mark Pantoja's first three of the night found its home painting a 35-31 Pride score. Throughout the third Burr was able to capitalize on three opportunities from the field to total six markers. With 2:52 left in the period, Pickett converted off a dish from Burr to record her 1-000^th career point, becoming the eighth player in women's basketball history to reach that plateau. The Pride would finish out the quarter on a four point stint off the hands of Mikayla Murphy (Attleboro, Mass.)  and Stone to enter the fourth owning a 51-42 marker.

Tensions were high as the fourth began with LaRochelle setting the pace off of a jumper at the 9:44 mark. From there both squads made back to back layups creating a 53-44 scoreboard with nine minutes to play. Starting at the eight minute mark the Pride went on a five point run led by Stone with four continuing to push on their lead. Elms responded with two Alex Marques (Newington, Conn.) layups beginning at the 4:29 tally nevertheless the Pride fought back securing three points of their own. Entering the final three minutes Burr was able to sink two easily at the charity stripe in an attempt to close out the deficit, Elms would embark on a six point stint led by Burr burying her second three of the game, however the Pride would close out the afternoon holding a 69-61 score despite a Kayla Aberdale (Housatonic, Mass.) three with seven seconds remaining in the contest.

The Blazers were paced by Burr totaling 15 points going 5-for-13 on the floor. Pickett secured ten points and six rebounds in the effort for Elms. 

The Pride were paced by game high scorer Hawkesworth tallying 19 points and 12 rebounds going 8-for-19 from the field.

The Blazers totaled 38.7% from the field (24-62), including 36.4 % from the three-point line (4-11), and 60.0% from the foul line (9-15). Regis shot 45.9% from the floor (28-61), 27.3% from three point range (3-11), and 52.6% from the charity stripe (10-19).

The Blazers will host Southern Vermont for a conference matchup Tuesday, February 16^th at 6:00 p.m. The Pride will host Lesley February 16^th   for a 6:00p.m start. 

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