Women's Basketball Lose in a Tough Conference Matchup to Regis

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team hosted Regis College for a conference game on Wednesday evening at Picknelly Arena.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 55 | Regis College 64
Records: Blazers 4-11, 0-2 (GNAC) | Pride 5-10, 2-0 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first quarter would start with both teams trading possession early, until Elms would score an unanswered 11 points. During this scoring frenzy, the Blazers would see senior forward/center Talia Uribe (South Hadley, Mass.) make a layup and two steals, sophomore forward/center Mary Turco (Winthrop, Mass.) add a layup, a pair of free throws and a steal, senior guard Piper Graham (Lancaster, Penn.) hit a three-point shot, junior guard/forward Sophia Andrade (Southwick, Mass.) record a steal, and a jump shot and a steal from senior guard Kelly LeBel (Tolland, Conn.). Regis would respond with a three-point shot, but LeBel would make a second steal, pass the ball to first year guard Sanaii Diaz (Worcester, Mass.), and would find an open gap near the basket to receive the pass back and make the layup. The Pride would make a pair of free throws and a layup, but the Elms offense would once again find their way to the basket, seeing a layup from first year forward Devynn Watford (Billerica, Mass.). Unfortunately, during the final moments of the opening quarter, Regis would take control of the game, capitalizing on free throw opportunities and making a big three-point shot in the final seconds, and rally themselves to tie the game, 15-15. The second quarter would begin with strong defensive attempts by both sides, seeing a steal by Diaz, but the Pride would be the first to draw blood, scoring three layups. During that time, junior forward Tatiana Pereira (Providence, R.I.) would drive her way to the basket for a layup. As the quarter would continue, Regis would expand on their lead, but the Blazers would continue to their efforts to keep themselves close on the scoreboard, with Turco recording a steal, a tip-in, and a layup, Diaz adding a steal and two free throws, Andrade blocking a jump shot and would make a steal, a three-point play from Uribe, followed by a layup, and Pereira making a steal and a free throw, tying the game, 29-29, with 19 seconds remaining in the first half. Unfortunately, Regis would make another big three-point shot in the final seconds to go into the halftime break with a 32-29 lead.

The Pride would start the third quarter continuing to control the momentum of the conference matchup, scoring in their first possession. Diaz would make a steal and Turco would add a free throw, but Regis would continue to make their baskets, with a three-point shot, a jump shot, a layup, and a free throw, to take a 12-point lead. As the third quarter would continue, first year guard Aniah Glover (West Haven, Conn.) would make two steals, with one leading to a jump shot from LeBel, followed by a pair of successful free throws by first year guard Malinna Figueroa (Waterbury, Conn.). Then in the final moments of the quarter, Diaz would make a free throw and a jump shot, Graham would drive her way to make a layup, and Turco would block a layup, but the Pride would maintain their 51-39 lead. The fourth and final quarter would see both teams trading possession early, with Graham making a steal that would lead to a layup by Turco. As the Blazers would look to regain control of the game, with a free throw by first year guard Sam Gomes (Worcester, Mass.) and a layup from Uribe, Regis would continue to add to their lead. Midway through the quarter, Turco would make a pair of free throws then record a quick steal, but the Pride would continue to keep the lead in their favor. As the final minutes ticked off the clock, Elms would continue their efforts to put themselves back into the game, with three free throws and layup from Figueroa, a steal by Diaz, a jump shot by Andrade, and a layup from Uribe, but Regis would defeat the Blazers 64-55.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Turco - 13 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block.

• Uribe - 11 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

• Andrade - eights rebounds, two points, two steals, and a block.

• Diaz -  eight assists, five points, five rebounds, and four steals.

• Figueroa - seven points.

• LeBel - six points and two steals.

• Graham - five points, a rebound, and a steal.

• Pereira - three points, two rebounds, and a steal.

• Watford - three rebounds and two points.

• Gomes - three rebounds and a point.

• Glover - two steals.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Basketball team will travel to New London, Conn. for a conference game against Mitchell College on Saturday, January 17th at 3 pm.

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