Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Women's Basketball faced their second game at Wesleyan today in the second game of the Wesleyan Tip-off tournament. Last night the Lancers were able to pull away from Rivier University to secure their first win of the weekend.
The first quarter saw the Cardinals scoring early but never managing to get too far ahead for Worcester State, who to stay close on their heels. The Lancers managed to stick with Wesleyan closing out the first quarter with a score of 20-28, going 9-19, going 47.4% from the court. The second quarter saw the game swing in Worcester States favor where they were able to close the game up to a single basket late in the second quarter. While fouls were barely a factor in the first quarter, they were pivotal in the second quarter in keeping the game close at hand as the Lancers recorded 6 to the cardinals 9, but it was the difference in baskets that helped close the distance for Worcester State. The Lancers went into the half down by 5 with a score of 37-42 and 14 second chance points in the paint for Worcester.
At the close of the half senior Erin Gallella (Tewksbury, MA) lead the team with 12 points while juniors Nyah Thomas(Attleboro, MA) and Emma Found (Wakefield, MA) added an additional 7 points for the Lancers. Junior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, MA) recorded 5 of the rebounds for the Lancers and a block in the game to keep pace for the Lancers defense.
The second half started as a full Worcester state take over with a back-and-forth basket game to start before the Lancers were able to chip away at the Cardinals before grabbing their first lead of the game with just over three minutes left in the third. Baskets from Abby St. Martin and solid shooting at the free throw line helped the Lancers capitalize on Wesleyans mistakes to jump ahead of the Cardinals. Fouls continued to slow down the quarter and allow Worcester State the advantage to build their position in the game that saw them build up their first significant lead of the game with a seven-point advantage.
It took a minute into the fourth for either team to bran a basket with the Lancers nabbing the first two followed up quickly by the Cardinal's basket that brought them to the line to secure a three-point play. The quick scoring did it carry as another minute passed before the next basket where the Lancers sunk another basket to extend their lead to eight. The following minute of play saw the Worcester State jump out to a 10-point lead before a series of turn overs allowed the Cardinals to bring the game quickly back within a two-lay-up reach. With just five minutes remaining the fourth quarter the Lancers and Cardinals were in a back-and-forth battle of missed baskets and fouls, fighting for the lead and win in the game.
A late three in the final five minutes had the Cardinals close the game within one and a quick recovery of the ball had them reclaiming their lead for the first time since late in the third quarter. While Wesleyan sent up threes through the basket the Lancers were having hard time answering forcing themselves into foul trouble trying to slow the attacking Cardinal pressure down. The Cardinals capitalized on the momentum to jump out to an eight-point lead in the finals minute and a half of the game. While the Lancers worked to keep pace it became a back forth final 45 seconds with fouls and free throws the focus of the final moments that ultimately saw the Cardinals hold on for an 84-76 win over the Lancers.
The Lancers closed the game with 31-56 (49.2%) in the paint and 4-17 from the three-point line. They shot a commanding 10-16 (62.5%) from the free throw line on the afternoon. Erin Gallella led the team with 21 points and Hurynowicz was a defensive force with 9 rebounds and 9 points, a shy in each for a double-double.
Worcester State (2-3, 0-0) will be back in action on Tuesday when they square off with Keene St at 5pm at home for their final game before the Thanksgiving holiday.