Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Women's Basketball team (4-20, 3-8) traveled to North Adams, MA to play MCLA (4-20, 1-10) in their final conference game of the regular season. The Lancers secured a playoff spot after results went their way on Wednesday and are now playing for final seeding in the tournament. The Lancers are looking to use this game to fine-tune some plays and ideas for success in the upcoming MASCAC conference tournament.
Final:
Worcester State: 77
MCLA: 35
How it Happened:
The match opened up with a 13-3 run for Worcester State with the opening jumper coming off the fingers of the junior Abby St. Martin (Putnam, CT), who sent the ball floating through the bucket off the slick pass of senior Nyah Thomas (Attleboro, MA). Clever passing as well as impressive transition movement saw the match open up in favor of the Lancers. Senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, MA) was an active presence on the court in the opening quarter scoring eight of the opening 19 points for the Lancers.
The score would sit at 19-7 for the start of the second quarter when Lena Waldron (Quincy, MA), the impressive first year, would add some additional points to the board to open up the quarter and push the Lancers to a 14-point lead. Both teams would slow down a bit in the second, the game going almost a minute and a half without scoring, as each team battled a small turnover blip, before sophomore Cameron Watkins (Dracut, MA) would make a free throw to get the action pumping again. Waldron again would nail a floating jumper to put the Lancer lead back at 14, before hitting the first Lancer three-pointer of the day to jump the score to 27-10. The final five minutes of the quarter would see Worcester State continue to extend their lead, pushing it to a 28-point difference by the close of first-half action, taking a 40-12 lead into the break.
Waldron would lead the Lancers in the first with 12 points, while Watkins would shine on defense with five rebounds. 2 of which were on the offensive side of the ball.
Returning from halftime would see the Trailblazers attempt to chip away at the Lancer lead, scoring the first four points of the half, but Worcester was quick to respond with Hurynowicz and Watkins laying the ball in to put the lead back at 28. Watkins would extend the lead about a minute later with a crisp jump shot to push the lead to 30. Thomas added to her stat sheet with three assists in a three-minute spell during the third quarter. Hurynowicz would also add to the scoresheet with an impressive three-point midway through the quarter.
The fourth quarter would see the Lancers continue to extend the gap between the two teams, pushing the lead to a high of 47 points at the start as the Lancers bench maintained their game strength. The remainder of the fourth quarter would see ACH trading baskets and possessions while Worcester worked to hold onto their lead. When the clock hit 0:00 Worcester State had nabbed win number five in the season in a 77-35 victory.
Hurynowicz would end the day with 16 points and seven rebounds, just ahead of Waldron with 15 points and five rebounds. At the conclusion of the game, four Lancers would end the day with double digit points as first year Alana Smith (Chicopee, MA). Would drop 14 as Watkins ended with 12.
Worcester concludes the regular season at (5-20,4-8) and awaits the final playoff for their first playoff game next Tuesday, February 20th.