Mount Ida Outlasts Women's Basketball

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

NEWTON, Mass. – The Elms College women's basketball fell to host Mount Ida College, 74-67, in the final game of the 2016 Mustang Classic, hosted at the Mount Ida Athletic Center Sunday afternoon. The Blazers slide to 1-2 overall, while the Mustangs improve to 2-1 on the season.

The Mustangs gathered an 8-0 lead early in the first quarter behind four points by senior Brittany Crosby (Riverside, R.I.). The Blazers rallied back with a 9-2 run, capped by five straight points from junior Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.), to close the gap to 10-9 with 3:09 left in the quarter. After a three-pointer from Elms sophomore Kayla Aberdale (Housatonic, Mass.) evened the score at 12-12, the Mustangs wrapped the quarter on a 6-2 run to take a 18-14 lead.

Elms senior Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) kept the Blazers close in the beginning of the second quarter, netting five points to make it 22-19 at the 6:21 mark. Mount Ida maintained their advantage as Crosby powered a 10-2 run with eight points over a five-minute span to expand the lead to 31-24. Elms freshman Molly Moulton (North Adams, Mass.) knocked down a last-second jumper to trim the gap to 33-27 at the break.

LaRochelle came out hot in the third quarter, burying seven points in the opening three minutes to pull the Blazers within a point, 35-34. Crosby and freshman Alisa Benson (Middletown, R.I.) connected on three buckets apiece during 12-1 run by Mount Ida to regain a 47-35 advantage with 3:34 remaining. After a pair of jumpers from LaRochelle cut the deficit to single digits, the Mustangs closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to hold a 53-39 lead heading into the final frame.

The Blazers roared back in the fourth quarter, orchestrating a 14-4 run, behind five-point efforts by LaRochelle and Burr, over the opening five minutes to make the score 59-53. The Mustangs rebuilt a double-digit lead with an 8-2 run during the next two minutes to capture a 67-55 lead. A layup from Burr at the 2:04 mark, and free throws from LaRochelle with 1:01 to play trimmed the gap to two-possessions, but free throws from the Mustangs held Elms off to secure the 74-67 win.

LaRochelle led all scorers with a career-high 34 points, connecting on 11-of-14 attempts from the field and 12-of-13 free throw, while adding five rebounds and four assists. LaRochelle earned a spot on the Mustang Classic All-Tournament Team. Burr tallied 13 points, and Aberdale chipped in eight points and five rebounds off the bench. Sophomore Nakia Mabin (Bridgeport, Conn.) added six points, five rebounds and three steals in the loss.

Mount Ida was paced by Crosby with a team-high 31 points with seven rebounds and two assists. Angelique Martinez (Taunton, Mass.) registered a double-double, grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds with 15 points and a game-high seven assists. Benson recorded 11 points, three rebound and three assists off the bench.

The Mustangs controlled the glass, 46-34, during the contest. The Blazers connected on 36.5% (23-of-63) from the floor, including 20% (2-of-10) from three-point range, and 70.4% (19-of-27) from the foul line. Mount Ida shot 47% (31-of-66) from the field and 63.2% (12-of-19) from the free throw stripe.

The Blazers will be back on the court with a non-conference home tilt against Mount Holyoke College at Picknelly Arena Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. The Mustangs will return to action on November 29^th with a road trip to Framingham State for a 6:00 p.m. tip.

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