Regis Downs Women's Basketball To Capture NECC Regular Season Title

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College women's basketball squad fell to top New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) rival Regis College, 65-38, Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena. With the loss, Elms drops to 13-9 overall and 11-4 in conference action, while Regis continues to climb to a 17-6 overall season while standing 16-0 in the NECC.

The Pride started out hot in the first quarter, netting the first six points of the contest, led by a four-point run off the hands of senior Amanda Hawkesworth (Abington Mass.). Elms streaked the scoreboard at the 5:37 marker with a tally at the stripe from freshmen Molly Moulton (North Adams, Mass.). The Blazers continued to rally from behind starting with a jumper off the hands of senior captain Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) to put things into perspective. Junior Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) closed out the scoring column for the Blazers netting her first tally of the afternoon at the 1:27 mark to send the Blazers into the second trailing by eight.

The Blazers pushed throughout the second outscoring Regis 19-16 in the quarter. LaRochelle led the effort totaling a team high 12 points as she went 6-for-7 from the field while dishing out two assists. Starting at the 9:20 time slot Elms went on a 12-5 stint headed by 10 points from LaRochelle. The Blazers improved their scoring options from the floor going 9-for-15 throughout the second to walk into the halftime period down 29-24.

The Pride came out of the locker room on a mission outscoring Elms 25-4 throughout the quarter with team highs off the hands of junior Brittany Stone (West Bridgewater, Mass.) who totaled 15 points going 6-for-9 from the floor to put Regis on top. The Pride totaled 14 points inside the paint to aid in the advantage. The Blazers saw their two baskets off the hands of sophomore Nakia Mabin (Bridgeport, Conn.) and sophomore Chaniah Pantry (New Haven, Conn.) as the Pride extended their advantage to 54-28.

Sophomore Sam D'Angelo (Woburn, Mass.) initiated the scoring efforts in the fourth with a three point blast to kick the Regis offense into high gear. Elms fired back with a senior Alexandra Marques (Newington, Conn.) tally from the stripe to keep hopes alive followed by a Marques layup off the glass. Despite Blazer efforts the Pride advantage proved to be too much as Regis walked off the court owning a 65-38 scoreboard. Regis totaled 11 points in the fourth to the Blazers 10 tallies.

The Blazers were led by LaRochelle's 14 points six rebounds, and two assists. Burr totaled seven points alongside five rebounds in the effort.

Regis was paced by NECC leading scorer Stone who captured a game high 23 points alongside a game-high 12 rebounds. Hawkesworth totaled 13 points on the afternoon followed by D'Angelo's 12.

The Blazers edged the Pride in bench points (10-8) during the contest. Elms connected on 29.2% (14-48) from the field and 55.6% (10-18) from the free throw line. Regis shot 30.0% (25-68) from the floor and 58.8% (10-17) from the free throw stripe.

The Blazers will face off against Southern Vermont for a road tilt Tuesday January 14^th with a 7:00p.m. start time. Regis will travel to Lesley for an 8:00 p.m. tip on January 14^th.

ELMS BASKETBALL