Defense Leads Women's Basketball To Victory Over Lesley

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Elms College women's basketball team used a strong defensive performance to pick up a 62-50 win over Lesley University in New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday at Picknelly Arena.

The Blazers (8-13, 7-6 NECC) held Lesley (4-19, 4-10 NECC) to just 50 points, making the Lynx the fifth EC opponent to score 50 or fewer points in a game this season. Elms held Lesley to just 29.7 percent shooting (19-of-64) and forced the Lynx into 18 turnovers in the game.

Elms sophomore Kayla Soto (New Britain, Conn.) led the Blazers with 16 points and eight boards. Soto went 8-of-10 at the free throw line and 4-of-8 from the field. Freshman Angelica Peguero-Flores (Springfield, Mass.) added 10 points and nine rebounds, coming up just shy of a third consecutive double-double. Sophomore Molly Moulton (North Adams, Mass.) finished with eight points, six assists, four rebounds and just one turnover for Elms.

The shorthanded Lynx lineup got eighty percent of its scoring from just three players. Dakota Jones (Torrance, Calif.) scored 20 points, Karyn McEvoy (Quincy, Mass.) had 11 and Abby Henderson (Rochester, N.H.) added nine as the trio combined for 40 of Lesley's 50 points in the game. McEvoy and Henderson each played all 40 minutes.

The Blazers trailed 13-12 after the first quarter, but dominated in the second and third quarters to build a 50-33 lead heading into the fourth. Lesley chipped away at the deficit throughout the final 10 minutes but never threatened to regain the lead.

Elms shot 33.8 percent (23-of-68) from the field in the game and finished with a 53-46 rebounding advantage.

The Blazers will be back in action on Sunday, hosting Dean College at Picknelly Arena. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.