Second Half Surge Leads Lasers Past Colonels

Newton, MA-  Lasell College picked up a, 63-51, non-conference women's basketball victory over Curry College on Tuesday evening at the Lasell Athletic Center.  The Lasers improved their overall record to 5-12 and the Colonels dropped their slate to 6-11.

Lasell opened on a 6-1 run with freshman guard Reegan Brackett (Scarborough, ME) breaking out with two quick buckets and freshman forward Kim Archibald (Lewiston, ME) notching the third Lasell basket within the opening three minutes. Curry kept the game within reach but Lasell held onto a slight lead up until there was just under three minutes left in the half.  It was at that point that Julia Scrubb (Stowe, VT) hit a layup, with 2:37 on the clock, to give Curry their first lead since the opening moment of the game. 

The teams traded hoops for the following three minutes, resulting in five lead changes, before Jennifer Olejnik (Salem, MA) hit a three-point buzzer beater to end the half in favor of the visiting Colonels, 30-28.

Sophomore forward JoAnna Bishop (S. Burlington, VT) nailed a baseline jumper to open the second half, tying up the score at 30-all.  After an ensuing bucket by the Colonels, the Lasers went on a 9-0 run, started by Brackett hitting two freebies, and ending with four points by senior forward Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA), giving Lasell a 41-32 advantage with 14 minutes left.  A deep three point field goal by Liz Forte (Rutland, VT) broke the Lasers streak, but a Culver steal transitioned into a layup by Kesley Converse (Laconia, NH) to give Lasell a ten point lead in the following possession.

The Lasers took the game-high lead of twelve points on a put-back jumper by Brackett with four minutes left in regulation and continued to hold the double-figure edge throughout the remaining ticks of the clock. Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) hit both free throws for Lasell in a double-bonus situation to close out the final seconds of the game.

Curry did hold the advantage in rebounds throughout the contest, 47-41, but the Lasers shot a strong 39.3% throughout the game, while the Colonels ended with just a 29% field goal percentage. 

The Lasers distributed a balanced offense with scoring spread evenly amongst seven athletes.  Brackett and Culver finished the contest with a team-high eleven points apiece.  Brackett also produced four assists and four rebounds.  Bishop was the next leading scorer in the contest with ten points and Brittany Jefferies (Medford, MA) and Farr each tallied nine points.  Archibald ripped down nine boards, adding six points. 

On the Colonels end, Scrubb finished as the leading scorer of the game with 13 points, adding nine boards.  Forte was close behind her with 12 points, going four of nine from downtown.  Cortney Robinson (Brockton, MA) dug in for nine points, six rebounds, and four steals. 

Lasell is back in action on Thursday, January 28^th at Rivier College for a 5:30 p.m. GNAC matchup.