Newton, Ma – The Lasers dropped an exciting double overtime game to neighboring conference rival Mount Ida College in Newton 65-59 on Wednesday night.  First year player Danielle Autencio (Montville, CT) led the Lasers with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough for the win.  The Mustangs improve to an overall record of 9-7 with a 2-2 league standing while the Lasers fall to 1-15 for the year and 1-4 in GNAC action.

For the bulk of the first half of play the game remained separated by no more than a basket, featuring five lead changes and five ties.  The teams would head into the break with the Mustangs up 23-19. 

Early in the second half, the Lasers found themselves trailing by 13 points.  The women battled back though, going on a 17-3 run over the next nine minutes to regain the lead, 42-41, with 5:15 left in the game. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes and with nine seconds remaining, Alexis Chappell (Springfield, MA) hit a layup to send the game into the first overtime tied at 49.

Neither team stepped up to the challenge of winning the contest in the first overtime exchanging baskets and eventually knotting the score at 52-52. Chappell again scored the tying basket to send the game into the second overtime.  In the second extra period, the hosts put together an early 10-2 run and held on with solid shooting from the stripe by Shannon Wood (Gorham, ME) to capture their third GNAC win by a score of 65-59.

The Lasers were led by Autencio notching a game high 18 points and 12 rebounds for the only double-double of the evening.  Chappell (Springfield, MA) tallied 13 points, eight boards, and six assists.  Sophomore Kayla Vincelette (Westport, MA) and freshman Taevosha Rentas (Springfield, MA) added eight points apiece.

Mount Ida will travel to GNAC member Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire Saturday afternoon with game-time slated for 3:00 p.m. The Lasers will also be back in action on Saturday when they host GNAC opponent Simmons College at 1:00 p.m. in Newton.