Women's Basketball Triumph Over Gordon in Home Non-Conference Action

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team hosted Gordon College in a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 71 | Gordon College 60
Records: Blazers 2-4, 0-0 (GNAC) | Fighting Scots 1-5, 1-0 (CNE)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Gordon would start the game with the early advantage, scoring in their first four possessions, but Elms would score back-to-back layups from first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.) and sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.). Senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) would later draw a foul and make a free throw, but the Blazers would still be down four points. Then after Turco would block a layup, Diaz would connect a pass to first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.) to make a three-point shot, followed by two layups from Uribe to take a 12-11 lead, but the Fighting Scots would take back the lead on their next possession. The two intrastate foes would then battle for the possession and lead, but Elms would be the first to move the needle when senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.) would make a three-point shot, after receiving a pass from senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.). Gordon would regain the lead moments later, but the Blazers would not give in, as LeBel would add a steal, followed by a layup by Diaz, seven points from junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.), and a free throw by Uribe to end the first quarter with a 25-24 lead. The second quarter would once again see the Fighting Scots score first, but Elms would start offensively with a pair of free throws by Figueroa and a layup from Turco. The Blazers would quickly add to their lead, with the assistance of a free throw and tip-in by Uribe, along with a tip-in and layup from Turco. Following a block by Turco, Elms would continue to control the narrative of the quarter, with the help of two more three-point shots from LeBel, assisted by first year forward Zuleily Lopez (Worcester, Mass.) and Turco, for a nine-point lead. Gordon would once again try their best to narrow their deficit as halftime neared, but the Blazers would hold on to their 44-38 lead, with the support of a pair successful free throws from Turco and a steal by Diaz.

The third quarter would start off with Elms maintaining their previous momentum, when a jump shot from Figueroa and a layup by Turco would extend their lead to ten points. The Fighting Scots would continue their efforts to trim down their opposition's lead, but the Blazers would continue to control the game, as Figueroa would make a pair of free throws, LeBel would make a fourth three-point shot, Pereira would swoop up a steal and a layup, and Graham would collect a steal as well, followed a free throw by Uribe and a Turco layup to have a 58-46 lead going into the final ten minutes of play. The fourth and final quarter would begin with a basket from Gordon, but Elms would earn points thanks to six combined free throws by Figueroa and Uribe. As the quarter continued, the Blazers offense would continue to hold on to their lead, as Turco would drive her way to the hoop for two more layups, followed by two steals from Diaz, along with a jump shot, a free throw, and a steal by Pereira to earn a 20-point lead. The Fighting Scots would then score an unanswered nine-points, but those efforts would not be enough, as Elms would go back in the win column with a 71-60 victory at home over Gordon.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 18 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

• Uribe - 14 points, ten rebounds, and an assist.

• Pereira - 12 points, six rebounds, and two steals.

• LeBel - 12 points, four rebounds, a steal, and an assist.

• Figueroa - 11 points and three rebounds.

• Diaz - four points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists.

• Graham - three assists and a steal.

• Glover - two rebounds.

• Lopez - a rebound and an assist.

• Watford - a rebound and a steal.

• Andrade - a rebound.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will host Westfield State University on Tuesday, November 25th in game one of a non-conference doubleheader at Picknelly Arena at 5 pm.

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