Women's Basketball Loses Third-Straight Game at Salem State

SALEM, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team faced Salem State University in a non-conference game on Wednesday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 64 | Salem State University 70
Records: Blazers 0-3, 0-0 (GNAC) | Vikings 1-0, 0-0 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two non-conference foes would battle for possession early, including a steal from first year guard Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) to earn Elms' first possession of the game. Salem State would be the first to score, but sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) would draw a foul and make both free throw attempts to tie the game 2-2. The two opposing teams would continue to battle for the lead, with senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.) making a three-point shot to take the first lead, after receiving a pass from junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.), followed by a steal from senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.). The Vikings would answer with a jump shot, but Pereira would once again find LeBel for a second three-point shot, followed by a jump shot from Pereira, a layup by Turco, and first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.) would make a free throw. Shortly thereafter, sophomore Gabby Wasiewicz (Worcester, Mass.) would make a steal that would lead to Uribe finding and open Turco to make a layup, and would extend their lead to 15-6. Then in the final minutes of the opening quarter, Salem State would rally back to tie the game, but with three seconds remaining, Turco would make another layup to give the Blazers the 17-15 lead. The Vikings would start the second quarter with a three-point shot to take the lead. Both teams would make strong defensive strides, with LeBel and Pereira each recording a steal, along with a free throw from LeBel and a jumper by Pereira, assisted by Turco, but Salem State would continue to add to their lead. Then towards the end of the quarter, Elms would gain momentum following a steal by Uribe, Pereira would connect a pass to Turco for a layup, along with a layup Uribe and a steal from Turco would lead to a three-point shot by senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.), assisted by Uribe, to take back the lead, 27-24. Then as the clock began to tick towards its final moments of the first half, Pereira and first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.) would each make a layup for the Blazers, but the Vikings would regain the lead, 35-32, going into the halftime break.

The third quarter would start by both teams trying to generate offensive momentum early, with Turco adding a layup and a free throw, but Salem State would add five points to their lead. The two intrastate opponents would try their best to stop the others offensive attempts, with Pereira blocking a layup and making a steal, and Wasiewicz and Diaz each earning a steal. The Elms offense would slowly chip away their opposition's lead, with Pereira making a pair of jump shots and Diaz making two free throws, along with a pair of successful free throws by Turco and one attempt from first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.), but the Vikings continued to add to their lead. Even when being down a few scores, the Blazers would continue their efforts to regain the lead, with LeBel and Figueroa each adding a steal and free throws by Turco and Pereira, but Salem State would hold on to their nine-point lead at the end of the third quarter. Elms would be the first to score in the final quarter following a Diaz steal would lead to a Turco layup. The Vikings would answer back with a layup of their own and would then see both teams battle for possession once again. Uribe would add a successful free throw, but neither team would score a successful basket until Diaz would find an open Graham for a three-point shot, to bring the deficit to five points. Unfortunately, Salem State would add another layup to extend their lead back to seven points. The two Massachusetts institutions would return to their defensive battles, which would lead to Pereira earning two trips to the foul line and would make three of her four shots to bring the Blazers to within four points of tying the game, but once again, the Vikings would quickly respond with a layup of their own to pause the momentum gained by Elms. As the final moments began to tick off the board, the Blazers would see successful four combined free throw attempts from junior guard/forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.) and Diaz, followed by Diaz recording a layup and a jump shot, and a steal by Graham, to bring the game to within two points, 66-64. Unfortunately, Salem State would add four points in the final minute to walk away defeating Elms 70-64.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 18 points, eight rebounds, a steal, and an assist.

• Pereira - 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.

• Diaz - 12 points, two assists, two steals, and a rebound.

• LeBel - seven points, two steals, and a rebound.

• Graham - seven rebounds, six points, and a steal.

• Uribe -  three points, two assists, two steals, and a rebound.

• Wasiewicz - three rebounds and two steals.

• Watford -  two rebounds and a point.

• Andrade -  a point and a rebound.

• Figueroa - a point and a steal.

• McKoy -  a rebound.

• Glover - a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will host Fitchburg State University for their home opener on Saturday, November 15th in a non-conference game at 7 pm in Picknelly Arena.

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