Elms Stuns Basketball, 49-46
Game StatisticsSOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Dec. 2, 2008) - The Elms College women's basketball team overcame an 11 point second half deficit to stun host Mount Holyoke College 49-46 this evening at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium. It was the Blazers first triumph of the 2008-09 campaign and their first win over the Lyons since the 1994-95 season. Mount Holyoke had captured victories in the previous 13 meetings between the programs.
Elms shot 37.0% (17-46) from the field and drained three shots from beyond the arc. The Blazers were paced by junior forward Amanda Brogna, who recorded a double-double on 18 points and 12 rebounds, both game highs. She went 8-of-18 from the floor and came up with a pair of blocked shots. Senior forward Paige Schneider tallied nine points and five boards, while first year guard Carolyn Talmadge chipped in with seven points.
Mount Holyoke fell despite a 47-38 edge in the rebounding column. Twenty of the Lyons boards came at the offensive end of the floor. For the game, the hosts converted 27.9% (19-68) of their attempts, but they made just three field goals in the second half. First year guard Christine Chancy posted season bests of 14 points and four assists to lead the way for Mount Holyoke. She knocked down a pair of three-pointers and also finished with eight rebounds. Classmate Emma Washauer collected season highs of 12 points and seven boards, while senior guard Katie Austen added nine points and a career high 12 rebounds.
The Lyons scored the first five points of the contest and led 18-9 after a jumper by Austen at the 11:32 mark of the opening frame. Elms answered with a 13-2 run over the next six minutes to gain its first lead of the evening. A layup by junior guard Jessica Jurkowski put the Blazers in front 22-20 with 5:44 remaining in the first half. Mount Holyoke then rattled off 13 straight points to close out the half. Chancy recorded eight points to key the spurt. She netted a pair of three pointers and two foul shots. Washauer closed out the half with a jumper at the buzzer, which gave the Lyons a 33-22 advantage at the break. Brogna and Chancy each registered ten points in the first half.
Mount Holyoke still enjoyed an 11 point cushion (43-32) with 12:10 remaining in regulation, but the Blazers rallied for a 16-0 run over the next ten minutes to gain control of things. A three-pointer by junior guard Tomie Lafond gave the guests a 45-43 edge at the 4:02 mark, and they never looked back. Following Brogna's run-capping free throw with 2:07 to go, they led 48-43. Mount Holyoke had a chance to tie things in the waning seconds but failed to get off a shot. Brongna scored eight of her points after the intermission.
Both squads are slated to return to action on Thursday. Mount Holyoke (1-5, 0-0 NEWMAC) will visit the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 8:00 p.m., while Elms (1-5, 0-0 NECC) will travel to Nichols College at 6:00 p.m.