Women's Basketball: Carroll and DePina record double-doubles in 70-67 loss to Anna Maria

NEWTON, Mass. - Senior forward Meg Carroll compiled a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds and freshman guard Jasmine DePina finished with 10 points and game-leading 15 rebounds for the Lasell University women's basketball team during a 70-67 setback to Great Northeast Athletic Conference-rival Anna Maria Saturday afternoon in the Athletic Center.

Prior to the game, the Lasers (8-13, 6-9 GNAC) honored graduate student Peyton Young and seniors Meg Carroll and Marie Zampano for their dedication to the program over the years. Young finished with eight points, five boards and two assists, while Zampano pulled down five rebounds.

"Each senior has made a large impact to this program and university," said Lasell University Women's Basketball Head Coach Kelley Sundberg. "We are fortunate to have them on this team after everything that went on with the COVID-19 pandemic."

Zampano added, "I have always had a passion for basketball and Lasell women's basketball has given me a sense of unity. I will always have a special place in my heart for the program."

Freshman forward Mia Sullivan-Sanders gave Lasell 24 strong minutes off the bench, tallying nine points and six rebounds. Senior guard Brooke Damboise recorded nine points and seven boards, while shooting 3 of 5 on 3-pointers, in 18 minutes off the bench. Freshman guard Juju Nealy registered 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Franchesca Hammond led the way for the AMCATS (4-16, 3-11 GNAC), finishing with a game-high 30 points, five boards, three assists and two steals. She shot 8 of 13 from the field, 7 for 7 on treys and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Marinique Reddin posted 11 points and a team-high 13 boards.

A trio of 3-pointers by Hammond in the opening 4:21 of the first quarter gave Anna Maria a 9-1 advantage. The Lasers countered with an 8-2 surge, cutting the deficit down to 11-9 on a jumper by Carroll with 2:18 remaining. The visitors ended the quarter on a 5-0 run, taking a 16-9 lead into the second.

Lasell won the second quarter, 21-13, and ended the half on a 9-0 run. A layup by DePina with 35 seconds left gave the Lasers the lead for the first time at 30-29. DePina finished with four points and five boards in the second quarter, as Lasell held a 14-7 advantage in the rebounding action and shot 50.0% from beyond the 3-point line. 

The second half was tightly contested, as neither team was able to develop a lead larger than five points. A coast-to-coast layup by DePina extended the Lasers' advantage to 34-29 with 8:41 left in the third. Damboise buried two treys in a span of 29 seconds, allowing Lasell to build a 42-38 lead with 5:05 on the clock. The score was tied at 52-52 at the end of three.

A layup by Nealy and a pair of made free throws by Sullivan-Sanders knotted the game at 65-65 with 53 seconds left. Mariah Carey drilled a three-ball for the visitors with 43 seconds showing, giving the unit a three-point lead. Carroll trimmed the deficit down to 68-67 on a layup with 32 seconds remaining, but Anna Maria ended the scoring on two free throws by Hammond with five seconds left.

Lasell won the rebounding battle, 60-43, and points in the paint, 34-18. The hosts also held leads in points off turnovers, 16-6, and bench points, 18-15.

The Lasers will take on GNAC-foe Regis Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Weston, Massachusetts.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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