Women's Basketball Loses to Nazareth in Their Return After Holiday Break

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Elms College Women's Basketball competed in the annual Sandy DeWolf McCormack Memorial Holiday Tournament, at Nazareth University, facing off against the hosting Golden Flyers in the opening round on Sunday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 59 | Nazareth University 95
Records: Blazers 3-7, 0-0 (GNAC) | Golden Flyers 5-2, 1-0 (Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms would be the first to score, after a jump shot by sophomore guard Jade Lewis (Orlando, Fla.), but Nazareth would take the lead after making back-to-back three-point shots. The Blazers would take back the lead momentarily after Lewis would make a layup and graduate student guard Rahmia Johnston (Newtown, Conn.) would sink a three-pointer, assisted by junior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.), but the Golden Flyers would take back the lead and would continue to add to their lead. As Nazareth added to their lead, Elms would show great defensive efforts, including a steal by junior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.) and a block by first year forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.). As the final seconds ticked off the clock for the first quarter, the Golden Flyers would hold their lead over the Blazers 29-7. The Elms defense would continue to hold strong early in the second quarter, after steals by sophomore guard/forward Shea Barron (Wallingford, Conn.) and Johnston, which would lead into a layup by Turco to score the first basket of the quarter. Nazareth's offense would respond by making a pair of layups, but Lewis would complete a three-point shot and a layup to bring the score to 33-14. Following a making pair of free throws, Turco would make a steal, connect with junior forward Jenny Gorski (Vernon, Conn.), who would assist a three-pointer by Graham. The two sides would trade possession, but the Blazers would hold momentum, after a layup from first year forward Stephanie Mildner (Sterling, Penn.), completed free throws by Lewis, Turco, and junior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.), along with steals by Lewis and Johnston, helping Elms to out score the Golden Flyers in the quarter 19-17, but Nazareth would keep their lead 46-26.

The third quarter would begin with both sides trading shots, with Johnston and Turco making layups for the Blazers, but the Golden Flyers would make the last shot, extending their lead to 22-points. The two opposing sides would continue to fight for momentum in the second half, including efforts by Elms with the help of a steal by Uribe and a layup by Lewis. As the the clock began to wind down to the final minutes of the quarter, the Blazers would see a free throw by Uribe, jump shots by Gorski and LeBel, and a layup by Turco, along with a steal from Gorski, but the third quarter would once again have the lead, 71-39. Nazareth would take the first shot of the fourth and final quarter, but Turco would make the block, followed by a layup a minute later, to keep Elms in the game. Lewis would make a steal, would draw a foul, and sink both free throw attempts. Shortly after, Barron would make a steal of her, which would lead to a layup by Lewis. As the next few minutes would tick off the clock, Uribe would make three more free throw attempts and Turco would make a third block and a steal, but the Golden Flyers continued to generate more offensive momentum. But as the clock wound down further to the final minutes, the Blazers would see LeBel make a free throw and a jump shot, a layup from Turco, Johnston with a jump shot and layup on back-to-back possessions, along with an assist, and a pair of free throws by Uribe, but Nazareth would win the opening round matchup 95-59.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Lewis - 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

• Turco - 14 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.

• Johnston - nine points, three rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Uribe - eight points, three rebounds, a steal, and an assist.

• LeBel - five points, a rebound, an assist, and a steal.

• Graham - three points, a rebound, and an assist.

• Gorski - two points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Mildner - two points and a rebound.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will take on Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the Consolation Game on Monday, December 30th at 1 pm.

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