Women's Hoops Stung by VTSU-Lyndon

LYNDONVILLE, Vt. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team traveled to Vermont State University-Lyndon for a non-conference game on Friday evening to ring in the new year.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 47 | Vermont State University-Lyndon 70
Records: Blazers 3-9, 0-0 (GNAC) | Hornets 8-3, 3-1 (NAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter would begin with both teams trading possession early, with sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) recording a steal, but Vermont State-Lyndon would be the first to score after a successful three-point shot. The Elms defense would continue to put a strong foot forward, as first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.), senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), and junior guard/forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.) would each record a steal, but the Hornets would add an additional six points to their lead. The Blazers would respond during their next possession, when Turco would connect a pass to senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) for a layup and the first basket of the game. The two teams would trade possession of the ball, due to strong defensive structure, with Andrade blocking a jump shot and Uribe adding a steal. Shortly after drawing a foul, first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.) would make a layup, after receiving a pass from LeBel, and would block a layup attempt, but VTSU-L would collect the rebound and score. As the first quarter neared its end, Uribe would make a free throw, but the Hornets would hold on to their lead, 13-5. The second quarter would start by Vermont State-Lyndon continuing to control the momentum, by scoring ten more points, but also restricting Elms from scoring a field goal for nearly four minutes. Diaz would draw a foul and add a free throw. Soon thereafter, she would miss a layup attempt and Watford would score on a tip-in. The two sides would return to trading possession, until a steal by sophomore guard Gabby Wasiewicz (Worcester, Mass.) would lead to first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.) scoring a layup. In the final minutes of the opening half, the Blazers would see a combined four layups from junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.), Turco, and Uribe, along with a tip-in by Turco, but the Hornets would maintain their 40-20 lead going into the halftime break.

The third quarter would begin with Turco recording another steal, followed by a pair of layups by Pereira and Turco, but the Lyndon offense would continue to score. As the quarter would continue, Diaz would score a layup, Turco added a layup and a pair of free throws, senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) would record a layup, a block, and a steal, and Uribe would add a free throw, but the Hornets would keep the score in their favor, 59-33. The fourth and final quarter would once again see both teams trading possession early, but Elms would be the first to score, when Uribe made a free throw, followed by jump shots from LeBel and first year guard Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.), with the latter being helped by a Watford steal. As the quarter neared its end, Turco would add a layup, a jump shot, and three free throws, Diaz would score a layup, and Figueroa would record a steal, but the Hornets would defeat the Blazers 70–47.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

• Watford - eight rebounds, four points, a steal, and a block.

• Uribe - seven points, a rebound, and a steal.

• Andrade -  six rebounds, a steal, and a block.

• Diaz - five points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

• Pereira - four points, two rebounds, and an assist.

• LeBel - two points, two assists, a rebound, and a steal.

• Graham -  two points, two rebounds, a steal, and a block.

• Figueroa - two points, a rebound, and a steal.

• Glover - two points and a rebound.

• Wasiewicz - a rebound and a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will travel to South Hadley, Mass. for a non-conference game on Monday, January 5th against Mount Holyoke College at 6:30 pm.

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