LEICESTER, Mass. – Sam O'Gara (Worcester, Mass.) tied a career-high with 22 points and Clark University held on for a season-opening, 58-56 win over Worcester State in the second game of the 2015 Worcester City Tournament in non-league women's basketball action on Friday night at Becker College's Alumni Gymnasium.
With the win, the Cougars advance to the tournament championship game where they will face a familiar foe in New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival WPI. The Engineers opened up the tourney with a 79-17 win over the host Hawks in the evening's first game. Clark and WPI will play on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. following the consolation contest of Becker and Worcester State at 1:00 p.m.
Playing under the new format following a summer of rules changes for collegiate women's basketball that included a switch from two halves to four, ten minute quarters, both teams seemed to have a tough time adjusting. Worcester State went 1-for-11 in the first period and scored just eight points. Meanwhile, things were rocky offensively for the Scarlet and White as well as they committed six turnovers in the opening stanza.
Things finally began to settle down and the Cougars went into halftime ahead, 23-17. Ironically, that score was the exact point total from the fourth quarter alone as both teams answered each other's run with one of their own. After an O'Gara scored inside with little resistance, Clark was in charge, ahead 43-33.
The lead was 45-35 a few minutes later when the Lancers made their move as Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) and TaNajia Smith (South Windsor, Conn.) scored back-to-back baskets, Natasha Gonzalez (Milford, Mass.) connected on a pair from the charity stripe and finally Britt Herring (West Brookfield, Mass.) scored inside and the game was suddenly, 45-44 with 5:15 left to play.
From that point on, Clark made just two baskets the rest of the way - one of them being a great interior finish from Maya Kerstetter (Northampton, Mass.) – but they went a combined 9-for-12 from the free throw line the rest of the way to secure the victory.
Both teams shot 35 percent from the field including a combined 6-for-22 from behind the arc while committing 42 turnovers.
Herring was extremely efficient for the Lancers, racking up a team-best 16 points to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks. Hackett, meanwhile, really had to work for her points as she ended up with 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting.
In addition to O'Gara's 22 points, five rebounds and four steals, a pair of freshmen were huge contributors. Kacey Legare (Chicopee, Mass.) chipped in with nine points, while Ogechi Ezemma (Hope Valley, R.I.) helped out with eight points, three rebounds and three steals.
Clark will play in the Worcester City Championship against WPI at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 14). Worcester State will play Becker in the consolation game at 1:00 p.m.
Release Courtesy of Becker Sports Information