WBK: Lasers struggle to get offense going in loss to Framingham

Framingham, Mass. – The Lasell University Lasers women's basketball team fell to the Framingham State Rams, 70-48, Tuesday at the Framingham State Athletic Center.

Senior Meg Carroll (Douglas, Mass.) led the Lasers with 16 points on 6-12 from the field and she added eight rebounds. Senior Brooke Damboise (Bolton, Conn.) was the only other Laser in double figures with 12 points on 4-8 from the field with all four makes coming from behind the arc.

Sophomore Flannery O'Connor (Amesbury, Mass.) led the Rams in points with 15 and led the game in rebounds with nine. Senior Camille Desrochers (Westford, Mass.) scored 14 points and added seven rebounds herself. The last of the Rams' starters in double figures was sophomore Katty Haidul (Gilford, N.H.) who scored 12 points and bought down seven rebounds as well. Freshman Kelsey Yelle (Easton, Mass.) scored 10 points off the bench.

The Rams dominated in the paint and was a key to their victory. Framingham doubled Lasell in rebounds grabbing 50 compared to 25 by the Lasers. They also had double the points in the paint as Lasell scoring 44 of their 70 points down low compared to 22 by the Lasers.

Framingham opened the game playing great defense and made all their shots during an 11-0 run through the first four minutes. Two consecutive layups by Carroll got Lasell their own mini run before the Rams answered with an 8-0 run. A three-pointer by Damboise clawed back a bit but Framingham answered with three more points of their own to carry a 15-point lead into the second.

The second quarter lacked the runs that the first quarter had, with both teams trading baskets for the most part. The Lasers offense got started after a slow first quarter, but the Rams continued to play well after their strong first quarter. Lasell shot 50 percent from both the field and from three, but Framingham shot even better from the field in the quarter shooting 52.9 percent. The Rams were looking to take a 16-point advantage into halftime before sophomore Gwendolyn Carpenter (Ashley Falls, Mass.) knocked down a three just before the buzzer.

The Rams offense continued to power ahead after the break going on a 9-2 run to open the second half and doubling the Lasers with 5:44 left in the third leading 52-26. Despite the score the Lasers continued to battle knocking down three more three-pointers and two layups from that point to cut the Ram lead to 24 going into the fourth.

Both teams struggled to get things going in the fourth quarter as they both shot under 34 percent. The Lasers outscored the Rams in the quarter 12 to 10 as they played good defense in the final quarter forcing eight turnovers.

The Lasers will be back in action on Tuesday November 30, when they play their opening game at home against Northern Vermont University at Johnson. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.