Women's Hoops Lose a Tough Matchup to Westfield State at Home

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team hosted Westfield State University in a non-conference game on Tuesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 60 | Westfield State University 70
Records: Blazers 2-5, 0-0 (GNAC) | Owls 5-1, 0-0 (MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The non-conference matchup would start with Elms with the offensive advantage early, scoring first with a layup by junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.), followed by back-to-back layups from sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) and senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) would also add a layup to gain a 8-0 lead. Westfield State would then score two points, but the two Pioneer Valley foes would trade possession until Uribe would draw a foul to earn a trip to the free throw line, where she would make her first attempt and miss her second, but Turco would collect the rebound and Uribe would drive her way to the basket and score on a layup. First year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.) would collect a steal and would score on a tip-in. The Owls would score on two three-point shots, but the Blazers would continue to add to their lead with three free throws by Uribe and Turco. Westfield State would cut their deficit to three points in the final minute of the first quarter, but Elms would hold strong with first year guard Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) finding an open Turco for a layup, and Turco would record a steal to end the quarter with an 18-13 lead. The second quarter would begin with the two opposing teams trading possession early, but the Owls would be the first to score, but Turco would once again drive her way to the hoop with a layup. The rapid Westfield State offense would continue to score and would take the lead by a point in the seventh minute of the quarter. The two teams would then trade baskets after a steal by Pereira would lead to a layup by Turco, after receiving a pass from first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.), but the Owls would answer back on their next possession taking a 23-22 lead. As Westfield State would continue to their lead, the Blazers would continue to look for an opportunity to regain the lead, with the assistance of a jump shot by senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), layups from Pereira and Uribe, free throws by Turco, and steals by first year forward Zuleily Lopez (Worcester, Mass.), Diaz, and Figueroa. Unfortunately, the Owls would go into the halftime break with a 35-32 lead.

The third quarter would start with the two intrastate opponents trading possession through most of the opening minute, but Elms would be the first to score after a jump shot by Uribe, following a pass from Diaz. The opposing sides would continue to trade control of the ball, but Turco would drive her way to the basket for another layup to regain the lead. The two teams would then trade the lead following layups by Uribe and Turco, along with a jump shot from Pereira and a pair of blocks by Turco and Pereira, but Westfield State would take back the lead, 46-42. Even though the Owls would continue to add to their lead, the Blazers would not back away without a fight, as Uribe and LeBel would both score on a layup, after receiving a pass from Pereira, but the advantage would stay in favor of Westfield State, 55-46, at the end of the third quarter. The fourth and final quarter would kickoff with the two opposing teams exchanging possession early, with Elms scoring the first basket with a layup by Turco. As the quarter would continue, the Owls would score soon thereafter, but both teams would put together great defensive structures that would force the other team to struggle offensively, including a second block by Turco, until Diaz would find an open senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) for a three-point shot to cut their deficit to six points. Graham would then record a steal seconds later but Westfield State would take the ball back and score on a breakaway layup. As the final moments of the contest neared, Uribe would add three free throws and a steal, Turco would make a layup and two free throws, for a second straight double-double, fourth of the season, and would see a career high of 22 rebounds and a season high of 24 points, and two free throws by Graham. Unfortunately, the Owls would hold on to their lead and defeat the Blazers 70-60.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 24 points, 22 rebounds (career high), two assists, two blocks, and a steal.

• Uribe - 19 points, four rebounds, and a steal.

• Pereira - eight points, seven rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block.

• Graham - five points, a rebound, a steal, and an assist.

• LeBel - four points, two rebounds, and two assists.

• Figueroa - two steals and an assist.

• Glover - two rebounds and an assist.

• Andrade - a rebound.

• Lopez - a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will return to action following the Thanksgiving break in Wellesley, Mass. on Tuesday, December 2nd for a non-conference game at Wellesley College at 7 pm.

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