Women's Basketball Lose at Home to Monks

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team hosted Saint Joseph's College of Maine for a conference game on Wednesday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 65 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine 77
Records: Blazers 6-13, 2-4 (GNAC) | Monks 8-10, 3-2 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Saint Joseph's opened the quarter with defensive pressure, forcing an early Blazers turnover. The Monks couldn't convert right away, missing a three, but continued to generate second chances on the offensive side. Elms responded with effort plays, as Senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) grabbed back-to-back offensive rebounds, but the Blazers were unable to capitalize, missing multiple shots inside and out. Elms answered with toughness inside, as sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) drew contact and got Elms on the board at the free-throw line. Turco continued to be a presence, converting both free throws moments later to cut the deficit to 9-3. The Blazers would continue battling on the floor and were rewarded at 4:52 when Turco scored a layup and completed a three-point play, trimming the score to 9-6. Elms found a late spark behind Turco, who scored another layup. The Monks capped the quarter with a three-pointer off an offensive rebound extending the lead to 24-8. The Blazers would close the quarter on a high note, as sophomore guard Gabby Wasiewicz (Worcester, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining, assisted by senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.). Saint Joseph's turned the ball over in the final seconds, sending the teams to the second quarter with the Monks leading 24-11. Saint Joseph's opened the second quarter with fresh substitutions on both sides, but neither team converted early as both squads traded missed shots and offensive rebounds. Elms had an opportunity to score inside, but a turnover at the nine-minute mark led to the first points of the quarter. The Blazers continued to battle on the floor with Uribe creating extra chances, though Elms would be unable to finish. Turco responded immediately for the Blazers, finishing a layup with an assist from Wasiewicz. After a defensive stand, Elms capitalized on a turnover when junior guard/forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.) came away with a steal and converted a layup in transition, cutting the deficit to 29-15. Elms would continue to stay aggressive and were rewarded again inside as Andrade finished a tip-in, trimming the score to 33-17. After a Saint Joseph's timeout, Uribe went to the line, splitting the pair to make it 33-18. The Monks pushed the lead back to 35-18 and would continue to capitalize on turnovers to maintain control. The Blazers would find a late basket when first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.) finished a layup and would close the half with sustained effort on the offensive floor. With seconds remaining, Uribe grabbed an offensive rebound and finished a tip-in at the buzzer, cutting the score to 38-22 heading into halftime.

Saint Joseph's opened the second half with early pressure, forcing an Elms turnover. The Monks were unable to convert immediately, and Turco pulled down a defensive rebound to settle the Blazers. Elms would get on the board at the free-throw line when Diaz split a pair, cutting the margin to 38-23. Diaz followed with a strong finish to make it 38-25, and the Blazers continued to build momentum on the defensive end. After Saint Joseph's missed both free throws, Turco capitalized inside, scoring a layup off a Uribe assist and converting the ensuing free throw to pull Elms within 38–28. Elms stayed aggressive, but a turnover led to a Monks basket. The Blazers answered when Turco finished another layup, assisted by Diaz. Elms responded out of the break with a Diaz layup, but Saint Joseph's countered at the free-throw line and in transition.Elms showed late energy as Wasiewicz came away with a steal and buried a three at 1:47, but Saint Joseph's answered at the line, with Russell converting both free throws at 1:29 to make it 60-35. The Blazers closed the quarter with strong execution, as Graham hit a jumper and Diaz added a late bucket. Elms finished the quarter with a defensive rebound in the final seconds, heading into the fourth down 60-39.Elms opened the fourth quarter with lineup changes as Uribe checked in for Andrade. Saint Joseph's struck first, but Graham answered for Elms with a jumper, and after a defensive stop by first year forward Zuleily Lopez (Worcester, Mass.), Wasiewicz knocked down a three from the wing off a Graham assist to make it 63-44. Both teams traded missed three-point attempts before Diaz pulled down a defensive rebound. Following substitutions on both sides, Elms had opportunities at the line, but Diaz missed both free throws. Turco grabbed the offensive rebound to keep the possession alive, though Elms could not convert. After several empty possessions, Diaz returned to the line and calmly knocked down both free throws. Turco continued to control the floor with another defensive rebound, but Saint Joseph's responded. Elms answered quickly, as Turco finished a layup off a nice feed from Uribe. Elms stayed aggressive. Uribe earned a trip to the free-throw line and converted both attempts before heading to the bench. Moments later, Diaz came up with a steal and finished a layup, then followed with two more made free throws after drawing a foul to cut into the deficit. Saint Joseph answered once again from beyond the arc, but the Blazers continued to battle. Graham hit a jumper, and despite another Saint Joseph's three, the Blazers closed the game strong. Over the final two minutes, Elms scored consistently inside. Turco completed a layup and free throw, Uribe finished at the rim off a Diaz assist, first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.)  added a layup in transition, and Turco capped the night with a putback off an offensive rebound in the final seconds. Elms outscored Saint Joseph's 26-17 in the fourth quarter, showing resilience, strong rebounding, and balanced scoring to finish the game with momentum despite the final score, but the Monks would defeat the Blazers, 77-65, for the conference victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 22 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Diaz - 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

• Wasiewicz - nine points, a rebound, a steal, and an assist.

• Uribe - seven points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

• Graham - six points, two assists, and a steal.

• Andrade - five rebounds, four points, and a steal.

• Pereira - five rebounds.

• Figueroa - two points and an assist.

• LeBel - a steal.

• Lopez - a block.

• Watford - a rebound.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will have a bye this weekend and will return to action on the road for a conference game in Henniker, N.H. at New England College on Tuesday, February 3rd at 5 pm.

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