Women's Basketball Finish Non-Conference Play with a 50-49 Victory Over Mount Holyoke

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team traveled to Mount Holyoke College for a non-conference game on Monday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 50 | Mount Holyoke College 49
Records: Blazers 4-9, 0-0 (GNAC) | Lyons 2-9, 0-0 (NEWMAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter would begin with Elms scoring in their first possession when junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.) would make a layup. A few possessions later, Pereira would make a steal that would lead to a layup from sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.), after receiving a pass from first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.). Mount Holyoke would then take the lead after scoring five points. The Blazers would see Diaz make a steal, first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.) would add a layup, senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) blocked a jump shot, and first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.) would tie the game, 9-9, with a three-point play. As the opening quarter neared its end, the two regional foes would continue to battle for the lead, with Figueroa adding a layup, Uribe making a steal, a layup, and a pair of free throws. Unfortunately, the Lyons would hold on to the lead, 18-15, at the end of first quarter. The second quarter would start with the two opposing teams trading possession for the first three minutes, with junior guard/forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.) recording two steals, until Pereira would make a pass to an open Andrade for a layup. MHC would add four points to their lead, but Elms would create momentum late after a pair of jump shots by Pereira, four layups from Andrade, Uribe, and Watford, along with six steals by graduate student guard Angelina Cellucci (Sicklerville, N.J.), first year guard Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.), Andrade, and Uribe, to go into the halftime break with a three-point lead, 29-26.

The third quarter would see the Lyons take over offensively early, scoring five points, but after a steal by the Blazers, Turco would make a layup to tie the game 31-31. The two Pioneer Valley opponents would continue to battle throughout the quarter, looking for an opportunity to take the lead, with first year guard Sam Gomes (Worcester, Mass.) recording two steals and Watford blocking a layup, but Mount Holyoke would be the first to score, adding three points. In the final moments of the third quarter, Elms would see Watford add a layup and Figueroa make a steal, but the Lyons would head into the fourth quarter with a four point lead, 37-33. The fourth quarter would begin MHC drawing first blood with a three-point shot. The two teams would continue to battle tooth and nail, with the Blazers gaining some momentum when Gomes would connect a pass to Watford for a layup and a Pereira jump shot, along with steals by Diaz and Gomes. The Lyons would increase their score to 45 points, but Elms would not go away, with Pereira making a free throw, and Figueroa hitting a big three-point shot and regaining possession with a steal, to bring the score to within four points. With under a minute remaining, the Blazers would crave for a victory, when Diaz would make a steal and breakaway for a layup. Mount Holyoke would make their next shot, but Diaz would draw a foul and make both of her free throw shots to keep the score within two points. Then with 29 seconds remaining, Diaz would find Figueroa open to hit a big three-point shot to take the lead, 48-47. The Lyons would call a timeout to bring the ball up court and would make their jumpshot, but the Blazers would drive their way down the court to have Diaz connect a pass to Andrade for a layup with 11 seconds remaining on the clock. With two seconds remaining, MHC would take a shot, but Elms would make the rebound and defeat the Lyons 50-49 on the road.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Figueroa - 11 points, three rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Watford - ten points, five rebounds, and a block.

• Pereira - nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Uribe - eight rebounds, six points, four steals, and a block.

• Andrade - six points, three rebounds, and three steals.

• Diaz - four points, four assists, three rebounds, and three steals.

• Turco - four points and a rebound.

• Gomes - three steals, two rebounds, and two assists.

• Glover - two assists, two steals, and a rebound.

• Graham - a rebound.

• LeBel - a rebound.

• Wasiewicz - a rebound.

• Cellucci - a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will return to Picknelly Arena for their conference opener on Saturday, January 10th against University of Saint Joseph, Conn. at 1 pm.

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