NORTH ADAMS, Mass.- The MCLA women's basketball team received a 21 point, 10 rebound effort from Kayla Hotaling (Ravena, N.Y.) as the Trailblazers defeated the Worcester State Lancers 61-58 in MASCAC action this afternoon from the Amsler Campus Center Gym. With the win, the Trailblazers avenged an earlier loss to the Lancers as they improved to 11-8 overall and stand at 3-4 in conference play. The Lancers drop to 5-14 overall and have a 2-5 mark in league play.
MCLA never trailed in the final quarter of play and was clinging to a 58-57 lead after Worcester State's TaNajia Smith (S. Windsor, Conn.) went one of two from the line. MCLA's Courtney Durivage (Wynantskill, N.Y.) connected from sixteen feet for a key bucket with 1:26 left to play pushing the lead to three points, but still left plenty of time for the Lancers. Smith was sent to the line again and knocked another freebie down making it 60-58 in favor of MCLA. The Trailblazers missed on the next possession giving the Lancers another shot.
MCLA dodged a bullet when Worcester missed twice in the paint on the next possession and the Lancers were forced to foul. They sent Durivage to the line with 33 seconds left, but she promptly missed both giving Worcester State life and possession at midcourt following a timeout. The Lancers, however, committed a turnover on the inbounds play and once again were forced to foul. They sent Courtney McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) to the stripe and she knocked down one of two making it 61-58 with 23 seconds left.
Forced to take a three pointer, the Lancers Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) attempted a desperation three that was blocked by MCLA's Ashley Clawson (Tolland, Conn.) and in effect preserved the victory for the Trailblazers.
The opening quarter began with MCLA scoring the first eight points of the game before the Lancers responded with six straight of their own to get back into it. The rest of the first half was a back and forth affair as there was 10 lead changes and three ties.
Both teams shot the ball well as MCLA went 15-32 from the floor (47%) and the Lancers went 12-21 (57%). Worcester did turn the ball over 14 times in the half compared to just nine for MCLA.
MCLA's Hotaling went 9-20 from the floor for her 21 point effort. Karina Mattera (Johnston, R.I.) added 14 points, four assists, and three steals for MCLA. The Trailblazers ended the day shooting 37% from the floor.
The Lancers were paced by freshman forward, Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) who registered a team-high 14 points. Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.) added 12 points for Worcester. The Lancers' leading scorer, Britt Herring (W. Brookfield, Mass.) was held in check with just four points, however she did pull down 11 rebounds.
MCLA attempted 28 more shots than the Lancers in the win. Worcester State was able to stay close due to shooting the ball at a 49% clip.
The Lancers return to action on Monday (Feb. 1) when they will travel to Johnson & Whales (RI) for a non-conference matchup tipping off at 7:00 p.m.
Release Courtesy of MCLA Sports Information