WBB: Lasers Erupt in the Fourth Quarter, Earn Third Straight Win

Newton, MA - The Lasell women's basketball team hosted the Bulldogs of Dean College on Tuesday night. 

The Lasers who won both of their road matches last week looked to continue the success at home. They got on the board first with a 3-pointer from JuJu Nealy and Laura Johnson was finding her way on the boards early creating extra opportunities. After Lasell held a 5-2 early lead, the Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run and made it a 9-5 game forcing a Laser timeout. The Lasers narrowed the gap however taking a 14-14 tie into the second quarter.

To open the second, three straight scoring trips for the Lasers found them recapturing the lead 21-17. This was in part of JuJu Nealy being the hot hand and nailing her third triple to that point and forcing a Bulldog timeout. Going into the final seconds of the half, a string of offensive rebounds didn't lead to any Laser points as they took a 31-25 lead into the break.

A couple of quick baskets for Dean saw the Lasell lead dwindle to 3, but Lasell would then rattle off a quick 6-0 push extending their lead to 9, 39-30. The Bulldogs did answer quickly, nearly erasing the Laser lead on an 8-0 run. On the final possession of the third with time winding down, a drive and kick feed from Abigail Duclos hit Blaize Mack in the corner who knocked down the open three, giving the Lasers a 5-point lead into the fourth.

Taking a close contest into the final quarter, the Lasers turned to Shirle Major to provide the scoring. Major opened the quarter hitting back-to-back threes extending the Laser lead to 11. Then before Dean could call a timeout, they found her again as she notched another triple and turned the two-possession game to 14 in a matter of two minutes. The Lasers weren't done however as the 9-0 run turned to 17-2, ballooning the advantage to 20. At this point, the game was out of reach, and the Lasers took a 69-51 win.

Shirle Major scored a game-high 16 points and also in double digits was Blaize Mack with 11. The Lasers as a team also dominated the rebounding category posting 64 rebounds to Dean's 32. Laura Johnson (18), Mia Sullivan-Saunders (12), and Blaize Mack (10) all had double-digit rebounds on the evening.

Up Next - The Lasers take to the road on Saturday going to Anna Maria.