Worcester, MA- Looking to make it three straight, the Lancer Women's Basketball team (4-3, 0-0) welcomes the Springfield College Pride to a Tuesday night battle on Brissette Court. Worcester hopes to close out the 2024 home court season with a win and a statement performance in the last week of their 2024 regular season.
Final
Worcester State: 36
Springfield: 69
How it Happened: 6-15
The Lancers started off the first quarter at a more meticulous pace as they were sizing up their opponents, the Springfield College pride. The Pride came out with ferocity and efficiency, grabbing points early forcing the Lancers to trail most of the quarter. The Lancers showed no quit as they attempted to take control of the contest with tight defensive pressure which had the negative consequence of small early fouls. The end of the first would have Worcester trailing 6-15.
In the second quarter, both teams came out swinging as they aimed to solidify their control. The Lancers would look to increase their offensive lethality having shot only a 16.7% in the first. The second would see that number go up as they went from 16.7% from the field to 21.4%, while going 0% from three to 25%. The Lancers would be more efficient but it would not measure up to the efficiency of the Pride. They would shoot 45% from the field and would convert on half of their three point attempts, while shooting 75% from the free throw line taking a lead of 14-32 into half time.
Coming out of the half, the Lancers would look to start out fast, as they needed to score buckets in bunches. An increase in the amount of shots they took, as well as the efficiency with which they shot, was their key to the quarter as they would play their best yet. Unfortunately, it would not be enough to completely erase the deficit formed by the Pride. Springfield would bring the energy they had from the first all the way into the third, and this would prove too much for the Lancers to overcome this quarter but they would cut the lead down to 15 as time expired in the third for a 34-49 line.
With the fourth quarter came a palpable energy that was built throughout the first three quarters as the Lancers would be facing a steep deficit but they had never stopped playing to win, a testament to their dedication and teamwork. They would come out to play hard and fast but there seemed to be an invisible barrier for the Lancer in this quarter as shots bounced off and around the rim but rarely fell in. The Pride, on the opposite side, had their best offensive quarter coming in the last moments of playing. Both teams would play hard, but the Lancers would succumb to a 36-69 loss by the Springfield College Pride.
Sophomore Mia Haynes (Worcester, MA) would lead the team with 13 points, most from behind the arc, while fellow sophomore's Alana Smith (Chicopee, MA) and Lena Waldron (Quincy, MA) would each record six rebounds on the night.
What's Next:
Worcester State (4-4, 0-0) will now hit the road west for a Friday meeting with Western New England on day one of the Williams Shooting Touch Tournament hosted by Williams. Game time is set for 8pm on Friday.