Women's Basketball Loses Season Opener at Thomas

WATERVILLE, Maine - The Elms College Women's Basketball team traveled to Thomas College for the 2025 Terrier Tip-Off Classic in a non-conference game on Saturday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 53 | Thomas College 65
Records: Blazers 0-1, 0-0 (GNAC) | Terriers 1-0, 0-0 (NAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter would begin with Elms on the board first after junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.) would make a jump shot, after finding a pass from first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.). Thomas would quickly respond with a three-point shot, but the two sides would go on a scoreless standoff, which would see sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) and senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) each record a block. The Terriers would be the first to score, but the Blazers would see first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.) connect a pass to junior center Teah McKoy (Hartford, Conn.) for a layup. Thomas would add two baskets, and as the clock wound down towards the end of the quarter, Turco would make two layups, Pereira would make a pair of jump shots and free throws, and by a steal by senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), which would give Elms a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter would start with another standoff between the two opposing teams not scoring a point. During this span of time, Turco and Pereira would each record a steal. The Terriers would once again be the first to score, but the Blazers would end their scoring deficit after Turco would make a free throw. As the quarter neared the halftime break, Diaz and Lebel would each add a steal, first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.) would make a three-point shot, assisted by Graham, and a block, Figueroa would sink a jump shot after finding a pass from senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.), followed by Turco making a three-point play, a layup, assisted by Pereira, and two free throws, along with a final layup by Pereira. Unfortunately, Thomas would hold on to the lead going into the halftime break, 37-29.

The third quarter would see the Terriers and Blazers battle early, with Turco making a layup following a three-point shot for Thomas. As the quarter moved on, Diaz would add a pair of steals and Turco would make a block. Unfortunately, the Terriers would continue to add to their lead, but Elms would continue their efforts to cut the deficit, with McKoy, Turco making three combined free throws , Diaz would add two steals, a layup, and an assist, Pereira made a layup, and Watford would record a layup, a block, and a steal, but Thomas hold onto their lead 57-40. The fourth quarter would begin with LeBel making a block and a jumpshot, along with a layup and a free throw from Turco. The Terriers would continue to add to their lead, but the Blazers would not their efforts be ignored, with Graham and Pereira each adding a steal, LeBel sinking back-to-back three-point shots and making a steal, McKoy making a jumpshot. Unfortunately, Thomas would win the game 65-53 to start the 2025-26 season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 18 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and an assist.

• Pereira - 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• LeBel - eight points, three steals, a block, and a rebound.

• McKoy - six points and a rebound.

• Watford -  five points, two blocks, a rebound, and a steal.

• Figueroa - two points, a rebound, and an assist.

• Diaz - five steals, two points, two rebounds, and two assists.

• Graham - two assists, a rebound, a steal, and a block.

• Uribe - five rebounds and an assist.

• Wasiewicz - four rebounds.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will stay in Waterville, Maine for Day 2 of the 2025 Thomas College Terrier Tip-Off Classic on Sunday, November 9th in a non-conference game against Plymouth State University at 1 pm.

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