Fourth Quarter Surge Pushes Bridgewater State Past Women's Basketball

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College women's basketball team dropped a non-conference matchup to the visiting Bridgewater State Bears, 55-41, at Picknelly arena Monday evening. With the loss the Blazers fall to 8-8 overall while the Bears climb to 8-10 on the season.

Play opened with the Bears snagging the first bucket of the night as senior Jennie Lindland (Edgartown, Mass.) posted a jumper to mark the initial score. Elms senior Alexandra Marques (Newington, Conn.) would respond with the first Blazers basket of the evening after securing a tally off of the backboard. The Bears would continue to remain in control however with Lindland leading the charge totaling four points in the quarter. Elms began to harness momentum after a junior Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) steal found the hands of freshmen Samantha Lynes (Berlin, Conn.) for the tally to send the Blazers into the second trailing by one, 12-11.

Marques notched the first score of the second for Elms as the back and forth play continued to commence. Senior Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) came up clutch during the quarter totaling a team-high four points alongside Marques who also totaled four for Elms, in turn producing a 21-18 scoreboard. Freshmen Kayla Carter (Hamilton, Mass.) closed out the scoring column for the Bears posting a quick jumper to keep Bridgewater within one as both teams headed to the locker room eyeing a 21-20 scoreboard.

The Bears quickly took back the advantage at the start of the third as sophomore Sara DaSilva (Chelmsford, Mass.) sent one home off the glass while drawing the foul to secure a third tally at the stripe. The quarter saw consistent back and forth tallies in turn producing four lead changes. At the five minute mark, Marques come up big for the Blazers capturing the steal and in turn sending the ball to Burr for the fast break layup. At 3:09,  a junior Jennifer Whyte (Braintree, Mass.) three point blast rang high in Picknelly arena knotting the game with a 30-30 score. From there, Bridgewater remained in charge eventually heading into the fourth ahead 34-33.

With the contest within one possession, LaRochelle buried an attempt from the line to capture a 35-34 Elms score. Burr followed with a three-point stinger at 8:28 to keep the Blazers ahead. The Bears continued to push with Whyte knotting things up once again with a score off the glass alongside a tally from the charity stripe in turn posting a 41-41 scoreboard. The Bears would take this newfound momentum and nurse it until the final buzzer as they indulged on a 15-point run, keeping the Blazers at bay and ending the contest with a 55-41 win.

Marques powered the Blazers with her ninth double-double of the season, netting a team-high 11 points, shooting 5-for-10 from the field, with a game-high 16 rebounds. Burr tallied nine points in the effort, while Moulton added six points and five rebounds for Elms. LaRochelle registered five points, six rebounds and three assists in the loss.

The Bears had three scorers in double figures, paced by a double-double from junior Rhiana Page (Brookline, Mass.) with a game-high 15 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals. Lindland produced 13 points and nine rebounds in the victory, followed by Whyte with ten points and three rebounds. Junior Chelsea Saucier (Ayer, Mass.) totaled a game high six steals in the triumph.

The Blazers conquered the rebounding column, 46-36. Elms connected on 32.6% (15-of-46) from the floor and 62.5% (10-of-6) from the foul line. Bridgewater shot 36.4% (24-of-66) from the field and 42.9% (6-of-14) from the free throw stripe.

The Blazers will look to re-enter the win column as they travel to Newbury College for a New England Collegiate Conference clash Thursday, January 26^th for a 7:00 p.m. tip. Bridgewater will travel to MCLA January 25^th for a 7:30 p.m. start time.

ELMS BASKETBALL