Women's Basketball: DePina hits game-winner in 58-55 victory at Johnson & Wales

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Freshman guard Jasmine DePina of the Lasell University women's basketball team recorded the game-winning layup with eight seconds left in regulation Thursday evening, as the Lasers overcame a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit during a 58-55 Great Northeast Athletic Conference win at Johnson & Wales.

"It was a well-fought team win," said DePina. "We did it for everyone on and off the court."

DePina finished with a game and career-high 23 points, to go along with seven rebounds and three steals for the Lasers (9-14, 7-10 GNAC). Graduate student Peyton Young tallied her first collegiate double-double with 13 points and a game-leading 10 rebounds. She made nine free throws and DePina converted five. Senior guard Marie Zampano contributed with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field.

"It was an incredible team win with everyone stepping up and contributing," said Lasell University Women's Basketball Head Coach Kelley Sundberg. "I am very proud of our group tonight."

Sarah Wisniewski led the way with a team-best 16 points for the Wildcats (2-20, 2-14 GNAC). She shot 2 of 5 from beyond the 3-point line. Naheema Walker (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Peyton Oliver (12 points, 9 rebounds) played well for the hosts.

Lasell came out strong, using a 12-0 run to build a 16-5 lead with 2:44 left in the first quarter on a layup by senior forward Meg Carroll. DePina and Young combined for 12 first-quarter points, as a layup by Zampano with three seconds left gave the visitors a 20-8 advantage at the end of one.

A layup by Carroll gave Lasell a 26-14 cushion 2:55 into the second. Johnson & Wales ended the half on a 9-0 surge, trimming the deficit down to 26-23 going into intermission.

The Wildcats scored the first six points of the third and went in front, 29-26, on a layup by Wisniewski with 6:20 on the scoreboard. A jumper by Oliver with two seconds left sent Johnson & Wales into the fourth with a 41-32 lead.

DePina took over in the fourth, scoring 11 points, while Zampano and freshman forward Jess Carney chipped in with five and four points, respectively. Lasell opened the quarter by scoring eight of the first 10 points, trimming the deficit down to 43-40 with 7:08 left on a jumper by DePina. Back-to-back layups by Carney brought the visitors to within one at 47-46 with 4:12 remaining.

Zampano evened the score on a layup with 1:12 on the scoreboard, and then senior guard Brooke Damboise buried a clutch 3-pointer with 44 seconds remaining, giving Lasell a 55-52 lead. Peyton Ryan drilled a trey with 18 seconds left for the Wildcats, evening the score at 55-55. DePina buried the game-winning layup with eight seconds left, and then added on a free throw with one second on the clock to end the scoring.

Lasell won points in the paint, 30-18, and points off turnovers, 18-7. The Lasers swept the regular-season series with the Wildcats, as Lasell defeated Johnson & Wales, 50-38, in the Athletic Center on Feb. 5.

The Lasers will compete in their regular-season finale Saturday at GNAC-foe Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.

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

-

For continuing coverage of Laser athletics, stay up to date with our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.