WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University 24-year head women's basketball coach, Karen Tessmer, earned her 300th career win Saturday afternoon, as the Lancers cruised past the Trailblazers of MCLA, 67-48 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tilt.
THE BASICS
February 3, 2018
Lancer Gymnasium
Score: Worcester State 67, MCLA 48
Records: Worcester State (12-9, 6-3 MASCAC) | MCLA (6-15, 2-7 MASCAC)
1ST QUARTER
Following a layup from Worcester State's Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.) in the first seconds of the game, MCLA took their first, and what proved to be their only lead a minute later when McKenzie Robinson (Adams, Mass.) drained a triple for the 3-2 edge. The Lancers then scored nine back-to-back point to hold a comfortable 8-point lead with just over five minutes to go in the first. Samantha Gawron (South Hadley, Mass.) scored the other five points for MCLA in the first quarter, while Worcester State upped their lead to 11 (19-8) on buckets from Emily Carens (Northborough, Mass.), Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.), and Sam Ellis (Grafton, Mass.).
2ND QUARTER
Worcester State pushed ahead by 16 early in the second succeeding a pair of free throws from Britt Herring (West Brookfield, Mass.) and a Sam Maglione (Lancaster, Mass.) triple. The Trailblazers then went on an 8-2 run to get within 10 with two minutes to go in the second. However, Worcester State ended the quarter with a Herring layup and a Cate Blatchford (Wenham, Mass.) three to go into the half ahead, 31-16.
3RD QUARTER
The teams went back-and-forth in the third quarter and the Lancers would not allow the Trailblazers to get within 10. Gawron led the offense for the Trailblazers in the third with six points.
4TH QUARTER
Worcester State took a 22-point lead following a trey from Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) and a Surprenant jumper with just under six minutes to go in the game. Worcester State held off MCLA and wrapped up with a score of 67-48 in favor of the Lancers to help Tessmer get her 300th win at Worcester State.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- MCLA's Gawron finished with a game-high 19 points, going 9-for-18 (50%) from the field.
- Courtney Pingelski (Mechanicville, N.Y.) chipped in 11 points on five free throws and three baskets.
- MCLA's rebounding leader was Arianna Walden (North Adams, Mass.) with six boards.
- Worcester State's Berkel, Hackett, and Herring scored 12-11-10 points, respectively.
- Maglione and Carens chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.
- Catherine Sweeney (Lowell, Mass.) was the Lancers' rebounding leader with nine. She also collected a game-high six assists and four blocks in the win.
- Worcester State shot 44.4% from the field, while MCLA shot 32.8%.
- Both teams shot below 30% from 3-point range.
- Worcester State caused 20 MCLA turnovers which turned into 21 points for the Blue and Gold.
UP NEXT
Worcester State wraps up a 3-game home-stand on Monday (Feb. 5), hosting non-conference opponent, UMass Dartmouth, in a 7 p.m. contest. MCLA resumes play on Wednesday (Feb. 7), hosting Fitchburg State at 5:30 p.m.
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