Women's Basketball Charges Past Colby-Sawyer

NEW LONDON, N.H. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team traveled to Colby-Sawyer College for a conference game on Saturday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 83 | Colby-Sawyer College 77
Records: Blazers 6-12, 2-3 (GNAC) | Chargers 6-11, 1-3 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Elms jumped out with early energy in the opening quarter, striking first as junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.) finished a layup off a clean assist from first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.) to give the Blazers the initial lead. Despite a tough shooting stretch, Elms stayed aggressive on the glass, with Pereira, first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.), and first year guard Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) generating multiple offensive rebounds to create second-chance opportunities. Pereira continued to be a steady presence inside, scoring through contact and pulling down key rebounds on both ends. Defensively, Elms forced turnovers and jumped passing lanes, highlighted by steals from Glover, senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.), junior guard/ forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.), and first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.) that helped shift momentum. Late in the quarter, Elms found a rhythm offensively as Uribe converted an and-one opportunity and sophomore guard Gabby Wasiewicz (Worcester, Mass.) knocked down a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds remaining. The Blazers closed the first quarter trailing just 19-16, showing resilience, hustle, and balanced contributions across the lineup. Elms continued to attack inside during the second quarter, generating offense through ball movement, offensive rebounds, and strong finishes on the floor. Uribe led the way early with a pair of layups, including one off an assist from sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.), while Pereira added a basket inside to keep the Blazers within reach. Elms found success off turnovers and transition opportunities, highlighted by a steal from Diaz that led to another Uribe finish. Watford provided a major spark off the bench, scoring multiple second-chance buckets off offensive rebounds and finishing through contact. Senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.) contributed on both ends, converting a layup and later knocking down a three-pointer off a senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) assist as Elms briefly pulled within one. The Blazers closed the half strong with Turco scoring at the buzzer on a feed from Watford, trimming the deficit to 37-33 at halftime and showcasing Elms' persistence on the glass and balanced scoring effort.

Elms continued to battle in the third quarter by leaning on interior scoring, hustle plays, and timely perimeter shots to stay within striking distance. Turco anchored the offense with multiple finishes, including several second-chance baskets off her own offensive rebounds. Figueroa provided a spark with a mid-range jumper and a layup off a Diaz assist, while Watford added scoring inside and on the glass with a putback and a jumper. Defensively, Elms created momentum through active hands, highlighted by steals from Uribe and Wasiewicz, which led to transition opportunities. Late in the quarter, Elms found rhythm offensively as Diaz converted a layup and Wasiewicz knocked down a three-pointer off a Diaz assist, helping the Blazers close the period trailing 58-54 after a strong collective effort on both ends. Elms delivered a strong fourth-quarter performance by attacking the floor, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities, and knocking down timely perimeter shots to pull away late. The Blazers opened the quarter by keeping pressure inside, with Uribe and Pereira scoring on jumpers and finishes around the rim. Elms took its first lead midway through the quarter when Diaz converted a layup off a defensive rebound sequence, followed shortly by Graham finishing a putback to make it 66-63. Momentum continued to swing in Elms' favor as Diaz set up Watford for a three-pointer and Wasiewicz buried back-to-back triples to extend the lead. Down the stretch, Elms stayed composed, forcing turnovers and converting at the free-throw line, while Turco and Uribe added late layups to seal the win. The Blazers closed out the quarter with disciplined defense and clutch scoring, securing an 83-77 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 18 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Uribe - 15 points, two rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Wasiewicz - 12 points, two rebounds, and a steal.

• Watford - nine points, eight rebounds, and two assists.

• Diaz - eight points, seven assists, two rebounds, and two steals.

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

• Figueroa - six points, two rebounds, and a steal.

• LeBel - five points and two rebounds.

• Graham - three rebounds, two points, and two assists.

• Glover - three rebounds and a steal.

• Andrade - two steals and an assist.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will return to Picknelly Arena for a conference game hosting Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Wednesday, January 28th at 7 pm.

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