Women's Basketball Defeats Dean for First Conference Win of the Season

FRANKLIN, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball traveled to Dean College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup Saturday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 73 | Dean College 54
Records: Blazers 4-10, 1-2 (GNAC) | Bulldogs 5-9, 0-3 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms would start the game with an early layup by sophomore guard Jade Lewis (Orlando, Fla.) for the first basket of the game, followed a steal from junior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) that would lead to a three-point shot by graduate student guard Rahmia Johnston (Newtown, Conn.). The two sides would trade possession until Lewis would connect with first year Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) for a layup, followed by a three-pointer by junior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.), assisted by Johnston, giving the Blazers an early 10-0 lead. As the first quarter went on, Lewis made a jump shot, Turco would add a layup, assisted by sophomore guard/forward Shea Barron (Wallingford, Conn.), and junior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), Turco, and junior forward Jenny Gorksi (Vernon, Conn.) would each record steals, as Elms would keep their lead going into the first break 16-7. The second quarter would see the Blazers continue their momentum from the previous quarter, as Graham would add a steal and Johnston would make a jump shot after finding a pass from Turco. Moments later, Barron would find an open Gorski for a jump shot, along with a steal by Johnston that would lead to a jump shot from Lewis and a layup by Gorski. As the clock would wind down to its final seconds, Elms would continue to add to their lead, as Johnston added a steal and a free throw, Graham would make a three-point shot and a steal, Uribe would make a layup, and Lewis added a steal, as the Blazers would hold on to their 30-16 lead going into the halftime break.

The third quarter would begin with a different narrative, as Dean would score the first basket with a three-point play, but Elms would not let that basket impact the game, after strong efforts on both ends of the court, scoring five points in their next two possessions, with a three-point shot by Graham, a block from Turco, a layup by Lewis, and a steal from Johnston kept the Bulldogs from making a larger cut out of their lead. Moments later, Uribe would receive a pass from Graham and sink a jump shot, followed by a jump shot from first year guard Gabby Wasiewicz (Worcester, Mass.) for her first basket of the season, then Johnston would connect with Wasiewicz for a three-point shot. As the third quarter wound down, Dean would continue their efforts to trim the lead, but the Blazers would continue to add to their lead, with the assistance of a jump shot from Lewis, a pair of three-point shots by Graham, and a pair of free throw shot from Johnston, to maintain their 52-34 lead going into the forth and final quarter of the game. The Bulldogs would start the quarter with a basket, but Elms would continue to add to their lead as Johnston would draw a foul and make both free throws, followed by Uribe making a free throw and a three-point shot, along with a three-pointer and a layup by Graham seconds later. As the clock began to wind down to its final minutes, Dean would continue to add a handful of baskets, but the Blazers would continue to add to their lead, with the help of Turco adding a layup, Lewis making a three-point play, a pair of free throws, and a steal, and a second three-point shot by Wasiewicz as Elms would secure their first conference victory of the season, defeating the Bulldogs 73-54.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Graham - 20 points, two steals, and a rebound.

• Lewis - 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

• Johnston - 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

• Uribe - 10 points, six points, an assist, and a steal.

• Wasiewicz - eight points and a rebound.

• Turco - eight rebounds, six points, three assists, a block, and a steal.

• Gorski - five rebounds, four points, and a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will host Colby-Sawyer College in a conference matchup on Wednesday, January 7th at 5 pm at Picknelly Arena.

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