Women's Basketball Lose to USJ in a Tight Battle for Conference Opener

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team hosted University of Saint Joseph, Conn. for their conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 53 | University of Saint Joseph, Conn. 62
Records: Blazers 4-10, 0-1 (GNAC) | Blue Jays 3-10, 1-0 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Jays would start the conference opener with an early 4-0 lead, but the Blazers would respond shortly thereafter, when sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) would make a pair of free throws and senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) would record a steal. Saint Joseph would add a basket and Elms would record back-to-back baskets to take a one point lead, when first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.) would make a tip-in and first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.) would drive her way towards the basket to make a layup and draw a foul to earn a three-point play. The two conference foes would continue to battle for the lead as the Blue Jays would make a three-point shot, followed by a layup from Watford, after receiving a pass from junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.), and a layup by Turco to take a two-point lead, after being assisted by first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.). The Blazers would then see a steal from Diaz and a jump shot by Pereira, after receiving a pass from senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.), to tie the game 11-11. USJ would answer back quickly with a basket and a pair of free throws to regain the lead with a minute remaining in the first quarter, but Uribe would make a layup to tie the game before the horn would sound, 15-15. The second quarter would see the two opposing teams would trade possession, Elms would see Turco block a layup, followed by a layup from junior guard/forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.). The Blue Jays would make a pair of baskets to take the lead, but the Blazers would regain the lead when senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) would find an open Andrade for a three-point shot, 20-19. The two GNAC foes would continue to battle, seeing Figueroa add a pair of free throws, first year guard Sam Gomes (Worcester, Mass.) make a free throw, Uribe make two steals and a layup, and first year guard Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) add two steals, but the score would be tied once again, 25-25, going into the halftime break.

The third quarter would begin with Saint Joseph making two baskets to add five points to their score, but a jump shot from Uribe and a free throw by Turco would keep Elms within two points of tying. The Blue Jays would then score nine unanswered points, but the Blazers would continue their efforts to try to turn the momentum in their favor, with Figueroa adding a layup, a steal by Andrade, Pereira recording a pair of layups, including one resulting a three-point play, a block and a pair of free throws from Watford, and a three successful free throw attempts by Uribe and Turco. Even with the efforts on both ends of the floor, USJ would go into the fourth quarter with a five point lead, 45-40. The fourth and final quarter would see Elms draw first blood when Uribe would connect a pass to Turco for a layup. The Blue Jays would score on their next possession, but the Blazers would try to keep it close as Uribe would record a steal at mid-court and breakaway to score a layup. As the quarter would continue, the Blazers would see a tip-in from Turco to bring the score to a point, 47-46, followed by a steal by Diaz. Saint Joseph would earn a trip to the free throw line, but that would prove unsuccessful and the Elms offense would drive their way down the court until Turco would regain the lead with a layup, after receiving a pass from Andrade. This lead would be short-lived as the Blue Jays offense would score an additional six points. The Blazers would continue their efforts until the final whistle, with Diaz adding two more steals, a jump shot, and a layup, along with a free throw from Pereira, but USJ would defeat Elms 62-53 to begin conference play in the 2025-2026 season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 16 rebounds, 12 points, two assists, and a block.

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

• Pereira - eight points, a rebound, and an assist.

• Watford - seven points, a rebound, and a block.

• Figueroa - six points and three rebounds.

• Andrade - five points, two rebounds, a steal, and an assist.

• Diaz - four points, four steals, a rebound, and an assist.

• Gomes - four rebounds and a point.

• Graham - two rebounds and an assist.

• Glover - two steals and a rebound.

• LeBel - an assist.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will return to Picknelly Arena for a conference game against Regis College on Wednesday, January 14th at 5 pm.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.