Blazers Smother Mitchell In First NECC Win

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Mackenzie LaRochelle led all scorers with 20 points as the Elms College women's basketball team snapped a five-game skid with a 71-45 win over Mitchell College in New England Collegiate Conference action on Thursday night.

LaRochelle went 3-for-3 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 at the free throw line, and finished added six rebounds and two steals to her impressive stat line. Molly Moulton and Niah Pantry each added 11 points for the Blazers, who improve to 2-8 overall and 1-3 in the NECC with the win. Regina LeBlanc finished with nine rebounds for Elms, including five on the offensive end.

Elms held the Mariners (4-9, 3-2 NECC) to just 26.3 percent shooting (15-of-57) for the game and held a 53-50 rebounding advantage. Trailing 11-10 after the first quarter, the Blazers took control of the game in the second. Elms outscored Mitchell 21-4 in the second to build a 31-15 lead at halftime.

Elms committed just 13 turnovers in the game, the second-lowest total of the season, while forcing Mitchell into 25. Dejia Santana led Mitchell with 13 points and seven rebounds in the game, and Camille Staggers added nine for the Mariners.

NECC play continues over the weekend when Elms visits Lesley on Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m., and Mitchell heads to Southern Vermont.