Women's Basketball Lose a Tough Conference Matchup to New England College

HENNIKER, N.H. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team traveled to New England College for a conference game on Tuesday evening.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 66 | New England College 81
Records: Blazers 6-14, 2-5 (GNAC) | Pilgrims 13-7, 4-4 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The conference game would start with both teams trading possession early, then senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) would draw a foul and make a free throw for the first point of the game. The two conference foes would continue to trade possession, until first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.) would make a steal that would lead to a layup from first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.). New England College would make a free throw, followed by Diaz finding an open sophomore guard Gabby Wasiewicz (Worcester, Mass.) for a three-point shot, but the Pilgrims would make a trio of layups to take a one-point lead. The two teams would continue to trade possession throughout the quarter, but NEC would continue to find their way to the basket and capitalize on their free throw attempts. During the final minutes of the opening quarter, sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) would make a pair of layups, but the Pilgrims would hold a 21-10 lead at the end of the quarter. The second quarter would begin with the Blazers earning some early momentum when junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.) would make a jump shot and a layup, along with a block by Turco, to bring the score to within seven points, but New England College would score on a jump shot of their own. Moments later, the Elms offense would continue to create opportunities for themselves when senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) would make a three-point shot, after receiving a pass from Figueroa, and she would make a jump shot in their next possession, bringing the score to 23-19. Shortly thereafter, the Pilgrims would take control of the ball score an additional 11-points, but the Blazers would see some offense progression with a pair of Pereira jump shots, Uribe making a steal and a free throw, a three-point shot and a free throw from Figueroa, and two steals by Diaz. Even with the momentum going in Elms' favor late in the first half, NEC would go into the halftime break with a 36-28 lead.

The Blazers would come out in the third quarter with some great energy, scoring in their first two possessions, seeing Pereira make a three-point shot, assisted by Graham, followed by Uribe making a steal that would lead to her scoring a layup, that was assisted by Diaz, to bring the score to within three points. As the quarter would continue, Elms would try to narrow the scoring gap with Diaz adding a steal and a free throw and Turco would drive her way to the basket for a layup, until Figueroa would make a steal that would lead to her scoring a three-point shot to take their first lead of the game since the first quarter. New England's offense would regain the lead, but the Blazers would continue their efforts to create some momentum, with Diaz making a three steals, Turco adding a layup, first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.) recording a block and a layup, Wasiewicz hitting two three-point shots, and Uribe recording a free throw and a steal, but the Pilgrims would hold on to their 12-point lead going into the fourth quarter, 62-50. The fourth and final quarter would start with the two teams exchanging possession early, with Diaz and Wasiewicz each adding a steal, along with a block by Turco. NEC would score first, Uribe would make a layup, but the Pilgrims offense would add a three-point shot to extend their lead. Watford recorded a steal, followed by a three-point shot from Figueroa. Moments later, Diaz would make a steal then find an open Figueroa near the basket to make a layup. As the clock was nearing the end of the contest, Pereira would make two three-point shots, Turco would make a steal, and a jump shot and a free throw by Uribe, but New England would defeat Elms for the conference victory, 81-66.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Pereira - 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

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

• Turco - 12 rebounds, eight points, two blocks, and a steal.

• Uribe - ten points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

• Wasiewicz - nine points and a steal.

• Diaz - nine steals, six assists, three rebounds, and a point.

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

• Watford - three rebounds, two points, a block, and a steal.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will return to Picknelly Arena to host Emmanuel College in a conference matchup for their annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day and Alumni Day on Saturday, February 7th at 3 pm.

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