Quincy, MA-- Lasell's women's basketball team fell to Eastern Nazarene College, 65-61, in overtime during their season opener at the Lahue Physical Education Center on Wednesday evening.
The game was tight throughout the contest with the lead changing nine times, culminating in six ties throughout the 45 minutes. Both teams produced even stats in most categories, with Eastern Nazarene shooting 37% from the field and 72% from the charity stripe, to Lasell's 34% from the field and 73% at the line. The Lions, however, dominated the boards with 56 rebounds to the Lasers' 38.
Lasell was led by senior forward Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA) who put up a double-double, scoring 19 points and adding 10 rebounds in over 42 minutes. Junior guard Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) had a fine all-around performance with 10 points and five grabs off the glass, adding two assists and two steals. Also putting in a great showing for the Lasers was junior guard Brittany Jefferies (Medford, MA) who notched nine points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist.
The Lasers fell behind by four in the opening three and a half minutes of the game before JoAnna Bishop (So. Burlington, VT) and Culver tied the game at 15:10 with layups in the paint. Jefferies gave Lasell their first lead shortly thereafter dropping in a bucket underneath to go ahead 8-7. After more back-and-forth between the teams, Lasell took their biggest lead after a Jefferies three-pointer, at 22-15, with 5:22 remaining in the first half. Eastern Nazarene battled back to go ahead by one with 47 seconds before the break, but two good freebies by Farr, who shot 100% from the line, put Lasell up 24-23 at the intermission.
The hosts took over in the second, going up by as much as 11 at the 11:02 mark, at which point the Lasers went on a 6-0 run to close the gap to within five. With 1:30 left in regulation, Culver buried a jumper to tie the score at 54-all, followed by a Jefferies breakaway layup to give the Lasers a two point edge. With eight seconds left in the game, Eastern Nazarene's Shardea Brown (Waterbury, CT) scored a put-back to force the extra session.
After Lasell scored the initial points in the overtime stanza, the Lions pulled ahead for the final lead change, and held on for the four point win.
Lasell (0-1) will try to snag their first win of the season at the Hunter College Tournament this Friday, November 20th.