CHICOPEE, MASS – A strong second quarter lifted Elms College to a 64-48 victory over the Mount Holyoke College basketball team in non-conference action on Tuesday. The Blazers improve to 2-2, while the Lyons are now 2-3 on the year.
Senior forward Alexandra Marques (Newington, Conn./Newington) had a strong showing for the Blazers with a 20 point, 13 rebound double-double. Senior guard Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford) scored 11 points, while first year guard Molly Moulton (North Adams, Mass./Drury) also scored in double-figures with 10 points and seven rebounds. The Blazers posted a 63-39 advantage on the bourds, and scored 50 points in the paint.
For MHC, first year guard Kathryn Violette (Yokosuka City, Japan/Yokosuka International School) paced the Lyons with 15 points and five boards. First year guard Katlyn Grover (Bernardston, Mass./Stoneleigh Burnham School) connected on 14 points, while sophomore guard Zahkeyah Allen (Philadelphia, Penn./Freire Charter School) scored in double-figures for the first time this season with 11.
In the opening minutes of the first quarter, the Lyons went up 7-4 after four points from senior captain and forward Xajaah Williams-Flores (The Bronx, N.Y./Holderness School). With 6:14 to go, Marques Alexandra (Newington, Conn./Newington) knocked down a pair of free throws and a layup for the Blazers to take a 10-9 lead. Allen fed Grover for a three pointer to re-take a 12-10 lead to end the first.
Marques and sophomore guard Kayla Aberdale (Housatonic, Mass./Monument Mountain Regional) scored six points apiece to help the Blazers start the second frame on a 16-0 run for a 26-25 advantage. Grover hit two jumpers in the final 2:08 of the quarter, but Elms went into the half with a 31-17 lead.
In the third, Violette scored seven straight points in the midst of a 10-0 run to bring the Lyons within seven (28-35). The Blazers went up by 13 after a Marques layup, but Violette scored four points in that last :23 seconds to cut the lead to single-digits.
Elms started the fourth quarter on a 12-4 run powered by six points from sophomore forward Nakia Mabin (Bridgeport, Conn./Notre Dame Catholic) for a 57-40 lead. Allen had a strong period with five points, but Elms pulled away with a 64-48 victory.
Mount Holyoke will hit the court next Wednesday where it will face Clark University on the road a 7:00pm. Elms will be back in action next Tuesday facing Newbury College at home beginning at 7:00pm.
