WBK: Lasell drops GNAC game to St. Joe’s, Maine; Montgomery, Ortiz combine for 44 points for Lasers

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's basketball team dropped an 80-62 decision to Saint Joseph's College of Maine Saturday afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at the Lasell Athletic Center.

The first-place Monks posted their sixth straight victory, improving to 13-6 overall and 6-0 in the GNAC, while Lasell dropped to 9-10 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

Junior Precious Montgomery (Bridgeport, Conn.) and senior Amanda Ortiz (Newton, Mass.) combined for 44 points for the Lasers. Montgomery finished with a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds, making 11-of-12 from the free throw line, while Ortiz added 21 points and five boards, knocking down four shots from three-point land. Junior Devyn Markland (Derby, Conn.) chipped in with seven points and seven rebounds.

Freshman Bri Jordan (Gray, Maine) led the winners with 17 points, while sophomore Kaleigh Walsh (Windham, N.H.) added 14 points and junior Cassandra Stapelfeld (Brookline, N.H.) was good for 13. The Monks had a balanced attack as 11 of their 12 players got into the scoring column.

The visitors took control of the game in the first quarter, shooting 69 percent from the field (9-of-13) to take a 27-12 lead. Stapelfeld led the way, making all three of her shots, including a three-pointer, for a 10-point quarter.

The Monks continued their hot shooting in the second quarter, draining 64.3 percent (9-of-14) to extend the margin to 54-35 at the intermission. Walsh led the way with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers. Lasell heated up at the other end of the court, converting 53.3 percent of their own shots, with Ortiz making 5-of-6 shots, including three from long range.

St. Joe's maintained a comfortable lead throughout the third frame, holding a 68-45 margin after three. The Lasers got as close as 15 points in the final quarter but the Monks proved too strong for the hosts.

Both teams are back in GNAC action on Tuesday, February 4, at 6 p.m., as the Lasers host the University of Saint Joseph (Connecticut) and the Monks visit Suffolk University.

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