SECOND HALF SURGE PROPELS LASERS PAST MIT

It was a slow start for Lasell College in women's basketball action tonight against Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but the Lasers rallied in the second half to run away with a 66-34 win over the Engineers.

Lasell's defense held the Engineers to only 4 points in the first ten minutes of the contest.  The Lasers also had a tough time getting points up on the board, shooting only 28.6% in the half, connecting on 8-28 total shots. 

Despite the sluggish start, Lasers possessed the lead until 6:28, when the Engineers tied the game with a good three pointer by Alice Yeh (Bellevue, WA), then went ahead off a free throw by Amy Marshall (San Marcos, TX).  The momentum turned twice over the next five minutes, however, Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) pulled the Lasers ahead for the final time with two good free throws in the final 30 seconds of the half. An up and under move by Tricia Culver (N. Hampton, Mass.) pushed Lasell to a three point lead at the half, 21-18.

Lasell opened the second half going on a 20-2 run over the first 6 minutes, giving them a 21 point edge over the Engineers.  The closest the Engineers got to the lasers from that point on was at a deficit of 16 points with 11minutes remaining in regulation.  Lasell shot 41.9% in the second, while MIT shot only 12.1%.  

Lasell's Shauna Kelly (Quincy, Mass.) was the high scorer once again with 21 points as well as 11 rebounds.  Culver was the high-rebounder with 12 total, and Farr dropped in 15 points and fed the Lasers with 5 assists.   Freshman guard Kelsey Converse (Laconia, NH) was a spark off the bench for Lasell picking up five points to go along with three steals. 

On MIT's side, Yeh ended with a team-best 10 points, and Cheryl Kwinn (Monroe, NY) had a team-best 10 rebounds.

The Lasers are now 2-3 this season.  Lasell's next game will be at the University of New England on Tuesday, December 2nd at 7:00 p.m. followed by another road game at Regis College on December 6th at 2:00 p.m. The Lasers return to home action on Tuesday, December 9th when they host Plymouth State University at 8:00 p.m.