Johnston Reaches 1,000 Points in Women's Basketball's Loss to Amherst

AMHERST, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball traveled to Amherst College in a non-conference matchup Tuesday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 28 | Amherst College 66
Records: Blazers 3-5, 0-0 (GNAC) | Mammoth 7-1, 0-0 (NESCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Amherst would put pressure on the Elms defense early, but first-year forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) would block a layup. The Mammoth would be the first to score after a pair of free throws and multiple layups, taking an early 11-0 lead. Graduate student guard Rahmia Johnston (Newtown, Conn.) would record the first basket for the Blazers with a free throw, the Amherst offense would continue to add to their lead, but the Elms defense would try to create their momentum with the assistance of multiple steals by junior forward Jenny Gorski (Vernon, Conn.), along with a block and layup by Turco, but the Mammoth would hold their 20-3 lead going into the second quarter. Amherst would start with possession in the second quarter, but a steal by sophomore guard Jade Lewis (Orlando, Fla.) would lead to a three-point shot by sophomore guard/forward Shea Barron (Wallingford, Conn.), assisted by Johnston, but Amherst would continue to add to their lead, but the Blazers would continue their attempts to create momentum for themselves after a layup and steal from Turco, free throws by Johnston and Gorski, and a three-point shot by junior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.), but the Mammoth would head into the halftime break with a 36-14 over Elms.

The third quarter would begin with both sides trading possession, until Graham made a free throw for the first basket of the half. As Amherst regained their offensive momentum from the first half, the Blazers would see steals by Turco and Lewis, a free throw from Johnston, along a layup by Johnston, would record her 1,000th collegiate career point, but the Mammoth would extend their lead to 52-18 by the end of the quarter. The fourth quarter would see a steal by Johnston where she would draw a foul and make both free throws. The Elms defense would continue their attempts to hold their ground after a block from Turco, a steal by Graham, and their offensive efforts would be supported by a pair of jump shots by Lewis and Barron and a three-point shot by first-year guard Mia Pacheco (Somerville, Mass.), but as the finals seconds ticked off the clock, Amherst would defeat the Blazers 66-28.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Johnston - eight points, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

• Turco - eight rebounds, four points, three steals, and three blocks.

• Graham - five points, two rebounds, and two steals.

• Barron - five points.

• Pacheco - three points and two rebounds.

• Lewis - two points, two steals, and a rebound.

• Gorski - two rebounds, two steals, and a point.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will take a break for the holidays and return to action when they travel to Rochester, N.Y. on Sunday, December 29th at Nazareth University at 4 pm for the annual Sandy DeWolf McCormack Memorial Holiday Tournament.

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