Women's Hoops Outshined by Saints in Road Conference Matchup

BOSTON, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball traveled to Emmanuel College for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup Monday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 44 | Emmanuel College 71
Records: Blazers 7-14, 4-6 (GNAC) | Saints 11-10, 6-4 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two conference foes would begin the first half with unsuccessful attempts offensively, but the Elms defense would display a strong start after first year forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) would block a layup attempt by Emmanuel. The Saints offense would then find a hole in the Blazers defense as they would score twice for the opening baskets, but junior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) would draw a foul and make three-straight free throws to make the score 4-3. Shortly thereafter, junior forward Jenny Gorski (Vernon, Conn.) would make a layup, followed by another layup from graduate student guard Rahmia Johnston (Newtown, Conn.). As the Elms offense found ways to score, Emmanuel would continue to add to their lead, but the Blazers efforts would not be ignored, as Johnston would add to her totals with a three-point shot, followed by a three-pointer by first year guard Gabby Wasiewicz (Worceter, Mass.) to tie the game 13-13. As the clock began to wind down towards the end of the opening quarter, the Saints would add an additional nine points, but sophomore guard Jade Lewis (Orlando Fla.) would take a trip to the free throw line, make both shots, to bring the score to 22-15. The second quarter would see both teams trade baskets, with junior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) driving to the hoop for a layup, but Emmanuel would continue to add to their lead, scoring an unanswered 15 points, before Gorski would make a layup in the final four minutes of the quarter. As the halftime break neared, the Saints offense would continue to add to their lead, but Elms would not be deterred, with Lewis added a steal and Gorski would make a free throw attempt. Even with the late efforts by the Blazers on both ends of the floor, Emmanuel would go into halftime with a 43-20 lead.

The third quarter would start with both teams performing strong on defense, not allowing a single basket for nearly a minute and a half, with Uribe recording a steal, until Johnston would make a layup and draw a foul for an attempt to make a three-point play, but was unsuccessful at the attempt, followed by a layup by Uribe and a steal from Lewis. After this strong showing from Elms, the Emmanuel offense would reclaim the momentum, scoring four points before Uribe would make two free throws, to cut the deficit to 21 points. Unfortunately for the Blazers, the Saints would continue to add to their lead as the third quarter continued, even with a three-point shot from Johnston and successful free throw attempts by Johnston and Uribe, Emmanuel would hold on to their lead, 59-32, going into the final quarter. As the fourth and final quarter started, the Saints would continue where they had left off, continue to control the momentum of the game, by making steals and adding baskets, but Elms would continue their resilience with Graham and Lewis both making three-pointers, a steal by sophomore guard/forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.), Johnston making a pair of free throws, and layups from Turco and first year forward Stephanie Mildner (Sterling, Penn.), but Emmanuel would defeat the Blazers 71-44 in the conference showdown.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Johnston - 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

• Uribe - seven points, four rebounds, and two steals.

• Graham - six points, two assists, a rebound.

• Lewis - five points, three rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Gorski - five points and four rebounds.

• Wasiewicz - three points and three rebounds.

• Turco - 10 rebounds, two points, an assist, and a block.

• Mildner - two points and a rebounds.

• Andrade - two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will travel to Weston, Mass. to play in a conference matchup at Regis College on Wednesday, February 12th at 7 pm.

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