WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DOWNED BY NICHOLS, 70-59
CHICOPEE, MA. Nov. 29, 2007 - Elms College junior guard Jenn Payton (Stratford, CT) and sophomore forward Amanda Brogna (Oxford, MA) combined for 26 points and 13 rebounds, but the Blazers could not stop Nichols College from earning a victory 70-59 in Thursday night's non-conference women's basketball game at the Maguire Center.
With the victory Nichols College improves to 3-2 on the season. The loss was the fourth straight for Elms College (1-4).
Elms College trailed 16-15 with 10:15 remaining in the first half before the Bison went on a 20-7 run to close out the first half leading by a score of 36-22. Freshman guard Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.) led the way for the Nichols scoring nine points in the final 5:20 of the first half.
Both teams exchanged scores throughout the beginning of the second half, but Nichols scored six consecutive points off a layup by senior guard Kristina Weasel (Wakefield, R.I.) and jumpers by sophomore forward Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, MA) and sophomore guard Alena Jasinski (Canton, CT) to push the Nichols' lead to 59-39 with 7:20 remaining.
Elms College battled back with a 16-4 run of their own to cut the Bison lead down to 63-55 with just 2:19 to play.
Both Brogna and Payton both contributed 13 points in 27 minutes in the losing effort. Sophomore guard Ally Wanat (West Springfield, MA) tallied 11 points for the Blazers.
In the loss Elms College was outscored 17-6 on second chance points.
Elms College returns to non-conference play Tuesday, December 4
at Westfield State. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.