Blazers Grounded by Falcons

CHICOPEE, MA - The Elms College Women's Basketball team lost a conference matchup against Albertus Magnus College at home Wednesday night in Picknelly Arena.

BASICS

Score: Elms College 64 | Albertus Magnus College 82

Records: Blazers (9-9, 3-4) | Falcons (15-4, 7-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blazers started the game off slow again, falling into an early hole against the Falcons. Elms struggled to hit early shots, but came alive late in the first. Sophomores Jenny Gorski (Vernon, CT) and Talia Uribe (South Hadley, MA) scored some tough baskets inside, and opened up shots for senior Rahmia Johnston (Trumbull, CT). Elms cut the deficit to 5, but struggled to keep Albertus in check, as the Falcons went on another run. The Blazers did not have enough offense to keep up. Soliyana Asfaw hit two tough layups at the end of the quarter to keep the deficit at 10. Elms struggled to keep the Falcons in front of them defensively, as the Falcons got easy layups and wide open jump shots. Elms eventually cut the Falcons lead to 5 at the midpoint of the second quarter, courtesy of good play by Gorski and Johnston. Johnston and Uribe tried to keep Elms in the game offensively, but the Blazers had no answer for Albertus on the defensive side of the ball, and went into half down 29-41.

At the beginning of the third, the Blazers went on a scoring run of their own, trimming the Falcons lead to 38-45. First-year Jade Lewis (Orlando, FL), graduate student Brianna Metellus (Springfield, MA), and Johnston would lead the way for Elms. Albertus did not panic, and scored a couple of baskets on the ensuing possessions to keep their lead at double digits. The Blazers played tough on defense, forcing more turnovers in the third, but could not convert enough on the offensive end to take the lead. The Blazers cut the deficit to seven points early in the fourth quarter, from back-to-back free throws of Uribe and made jump shots by Johnston. Elms hung around, but were unable to close the gap more, and a late run by the Falcons all but put the game out of reach. When the final buzzer sounded, the Blazers had lost 64-82. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Talia Uribe - 13 points, 5 rebounds

• Rahmia Johnston - 17 points, 10 rebounds

• Jenny Gorski - 6 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals

UP NEXT: The Blazers will be away on Saturday, January 27th against New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire at 1:30 P.M.

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