Women's Basketball Charges Past Colby-Sawyer in Second Straight Win

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team hosts Colby Sawyer College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup Wednesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 71 | Colby Sawyer College 63
Records: Blazers 5-10, 2-2 (GNAC) | Chargers 6-9, 0-4 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the first quarter, we would see a back and forth fight for the ball between Elms and Colby-Sawyer. However, Elms would win the fight for the ball and put the first two points on the board. Junior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) would make a jump shot, which was assisted by first year forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.). After the Chargers tied the game, graduate student guard Rahmia Johnston (Newtown, Conn.) would make another layup for the Blazers. After sophomore guard Jade Lewis (Orlando, Fla.) would steal the ball, she would drive the ball to the net for a layup. Then, Colby-Sawyer would foul Elms, giving Uribe the chance to attempt two free throw shots, which she would make both. After  back and forth possessions, first year guard Gabby Wasiewicz (Worcester, Mass.) would make a three point jump shot, which was assisted by Turco, putting the Blazers back in the lead.  After a turnover by the Chargers, the Blazers would gain possession, which would give Wasiewicz the chance to make another three point jump shot, assisted by Johnson. Then, junior forward Jenny Gorski (Vernon, Conn.) would make a defensive rebound, which would then result in her making a layup, which was assisted by Uribe. Even though Colby-Sawyer would make a three point jump shot, Gorski would steal the ball, then pass it to Wasiewicz, who would then make a jump shot. Ending the first quarter, Elms would hold the lead 18-14. Going into the second quarter, we would see a similar narrative as the first. Where the Blazers would put up the first points of the quarter, which was made by a three-point play from Uribe with a layup and a free throw. The two conference foes would trade layups, including a layup by Turco, but the two sides would continue to transfer possession, but the Colby-Sawyer offense would attempt a layup that would be blocked by sophomore guard/forward Shea Barron (Wallingford, Conn.). As the opening half drew towards the end, Barron would make a steal and sink a three-point shot, Lewis would take a trip to the free throw line. The Chargers would make a three-point play, but the Blazers would secure their lead, 27-20, going into the halftime break.

Colby-Sawyer would make the first basket of the third quarter, but Johnston and Turco would make back-to-back layups. The Chargers would make a pair of free throws and three layups, but junior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) would make a free throw of her own along with two layups and a pair of free throws from Turco and a pair of free throws by Lewis, the Blazers would maintain their lead with less than four minutes left in the quarter. Both teams would make three free throws each, but Elms would once again hold onto their lead, 43-37. The fourth quarter would begin by Colby-Sawyer making back-to-back shots to bring the score to one point, but the Elms offense would return the favor after three-pointer from Graham and layups by Turco and Gorski, followed by a steal by Gorski to find an open Lewis for a layup. The Chargers would continue their efforts to cut the lead down, but back-to-back layups from Johnston and Lewis, along with free throws by Uribe, Johnston, Lewis, and Graham, including a three-point play from Lewis, the Blazers would continue to maintain their lead and secure their second straight conference victory, 71-63.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Lewis - 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

• Turco - 14 points, six rebounds, and an assist.

• Johnston - 12 rebounds, 11 points, and two assists.

• Uribe - 10 points, four rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Wasiewicz - eight points.

• Graham - six points and an assist.

• Gorski - six rebounds, five points, three steals, and two assists.

• Barron - three points, two rebounds, a block, and a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will host Mitchell College in a conference matchup on Tuesday, January 21st at 5 pm at Picknelly Arena.

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