Women's Basketball Edged By Pilgrims

HENNIKER, NH - The Elms College Women's Basketball team traveled to New England College to take on the Pilgrims in conference action, Saturday afternoon.

BASICS

Score: Elms College 47 | New England College 56

Records: Blazers 9-10, 3-5 (GNAC) | Pilgrims 9-10, 4-4 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blazers would open the contest with a 5-0 lead following a layup from sophomore Talia Uribe (South Hadley, MA) and three-point shot from senior Rahmia Johnston (Trumbull, CT). First-year Jade Lewis (Orlando, FL) and junior Soliyana Asfaw (West Orange, NJ) would score back-to-back layups to increase the lead before the Pilgrims would close out the quarter taking the lead 11-12.

NEC would start the second quarter adding to their lead with seven points. Elms would later respond with a layup form graduate student Julianne Liebow. The two sides would battle over possession, but the Pilgrims would continue to add to their lead. With under three-minutes remaining in the half, graduate student Brianna Metellus (Springfield, MA) would find an open Johnston for a three-point shot, but New England would hold their lead 18-25 going into the break.

The third quarter would begin with the Pilgrims using their momentum from the first half adding an additional six points, but Lewis would make a layup followed by a three-point shot moments later to cut the lead down to ten points. A couple minutes later, Liebow would find Johnston open for another three-pointer, bringing the lead down to seven points. With under four minutes to play, Johnston would make a three-point play after making a layup and free throw, bringing the lead down to four. The two sides would continue to trade possession of the ball, until Johnston would find an open Lewis for a three-point shot of her own, bringing the Blazers within two points of tying the lead. The Pilgrims would then bring the lead further in their favor, but with a minute left in the quarter, Metallus would make back-to-back three-pointers to tie up the game at 39. As the clock was winding down, the Pilgrims were making their way down the court, but Metallus would steal the ball, pass the ball around, Johnston would be fouled and she would hit both free throws to take the lead for Elms.

The fourth quarter would start with a jump shot from New England to tie the game back up at 41. The opposing sides would continue trading the lead between each other with layups from first-year Sophia Andrade (Southwick, MA), Asfa, and Johnston. But the Pilgrims would regain the lead and would score an addition seven points until the final whistle.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Johnston led the Blazers with 18 points with three assists and 100% free throw percentage, she would also record six rebounds and a steal.

• Liebow would lead both teams with seven steals.

• Metellus would lead Elms with nine total rebounds with six points, four steals, and two assists.

UP NEXT: The Women's Basketball team travels to Northfield, VT to take on Norwich University on Tuesday, January 30th at 5:00PM.

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