AMHERST, Mass. - Senior forward Amber Legare netted a team-best 17 points, just two shy of the game-high, but it wasn't enough to overcome a strong Amherst College as the Lyons fell by a 97-41 margin in the opening game of the Amherst Tip-Off Classic at LeFrak Gymnasium. With the win, the second-ranked Jeffs move to 2-0, while the Lyons slip to 1-3 overall.
Legare added three rebounds, an assist and a steal in the game, while senior forward Nicole DeMarchena had a team-best seven rebounds, five points, an assist, a steal and a game-best two blocks. Senior guard Kate Karraker added 13 points, including a 3-of-9 effort from three-point range.
For the Jeffs, Ali Doswell recorded a game-best 19 points, adding two rebounds. Hannah Hackley, Rachel Boyette and Cheyenne Pritchard all came off the bench to record 11 points apiece. Hackley also had eight rebounds and four assists.
Amherst opened the game in dominant fashion, going up by a 21-7 margin on a pair of free throws from Pritchard with 13:32 to play. Down 32-10, the Lyons began to come back as Legare added a bucket, but the Jeffs continued to press.
Taking advantage of multiple fouls, the Jeffs pushed their lead to 60-16 with 2:30 left, but Lyons sophomore Xajaah Williams-Flores sank a pair of free throws and Karraker nailed a three-pointer to cut the deficit heading into halftime.
The second half saw Legare sink a free throw and a layup to make it a 66-24 game, but Amherst powered back to open a wide margin once more. A three from Hackley made it an 85-29 score with 12:07 to play.
MHC went on a 4-0 run soon after as Karraker hit another three and DeMarchena sank a free throw to cut Amherst's lead to 85-33 with 9:46 left to play. Another late three from Karraker, coupled with a bucket from first year Carmen Huang put the score at 95-41 and it was as close as the Lyons would come as the Jeffs held on for the victory.
Both teams return to action on Sunday in the final day of the Amherst Tip-Off Tournament. The homestanding Jeffs face off against Baruch in the championship game at 4pm. The Bearcats advanced to Sunday's final after posting an 86-64 victory over Farmingdale State in the second game on Saturday. The Lyons will square off against the Rams at 2pm in the consolation game.
