Women's Basketball Flattens Lesley

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College women's basketball squad flattened Lesley University, 75-47, in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) contest at Picknelly Arena Wednesday evening. With the win, the Blazers rise to 13-8 overall and 11-3 in the NECC, while the Lynx fall to 5-10 in conference play, and 7-15 on the season.

Elms initiated the contest with a tally off the hands of junior Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) followed by a LaRochelle score from the charity stripe. From there the Lynx fought back with a freshman Linda Wallentine (Monroe, Township N.J.) basket and a pair of junior Theresa Periera (Hopedale, Mass.) scores at the line to keep Lesley within one. However the Blazers pushed forward outscoring Lesley 14-10 in the quarter to head into the second owning the advantage.

The second saw back to back scores off the hands of both squads with senior Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) heading the scoring efforts with a jumper at 9:41. From there Elms continued to forward momentum as freshman Samantha Lynes (Berlin, Conn.) posted the first three point blast of the evening to create a 21-16 scoreboard. Senior Alexandra Marques (Newington, Conn.) headed all scorers in the second with eight points as she went 4-for-4 from the floor. Freshman Dakota Jones (Torrance, Calif.) kept hope alive for the Lynx totaling a team high six points as she went 3-for-3 in the quarter. Despite Lesley efforts the Blazers would head to the locker room owning a 34-26 advantage.

Elms continued to push their advantage in the third outscoring Lesley 23-13 within the period headed by Marques and LaRochelle's six points apiece. Wallentine led the Lynx with eight tallies as she initiated the scoring for Lesley at the 9:11 marker. Starting at 5:49 the Blazers embarked on an 11-2 run headed by six LaRochelle tallies that sealed their lead heading into the second owning an ultimate 57-39 score.

The Blazers continued to prove their dominance as they outscored the Lynx 18-8 during the final quarter of action. Freshman Molly Mouton (North Adams, Mass.) led Elms with six scores as she went 2-for-2 from the field and 2-for-2 at the charity stripe. Wallentine once again led all scores as she went 3-for-6 from the field for Lesley in an attempt to put the Lynx back on track however Elms would nurse their lead to the final buzzer ending the contest with a 75-47 advantage.

The Blazers had four scorers in double figures, led by Marques, who logged a team-high 17 points alongside 11 rebounds. LaRochelle tallied 15 points on the evening alongside five rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Moulton registered 12 points and four rebounds, while Burr gathered 10 points on the night paired with a team high six steals.

Lesley was paced by Wallentine's game-high 20-point effort followed by Jones with 12 points and 15 rebounds.

The Blazers edged the Lynx in points in the paint (56-24) and second chance points (22-10) during the contest. Lesley connected on 37.0% (20-54) from the field and 70.0% (7-10) from the free throw line. Elms shot 42.9% (3-70) from the floor and 50.0% (14-28) from the free throw stripe.

The Blazers will look to remain in the win column as they play host to Regis (Mass.) Saturday January 11^th for a 1p.m. start time. Lesley will take on Mitchell College January 12^th for a 1:00 p.m. tip time.

ELMS BASKETBALL