NEWTON, Mass. (12/06/2014) – Lasell College fell to Emerson College 54-53 in non-conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon in the Athletic Center. The Lions jump to 5-1 overall while the Lasers drop to 2-6.
Junior guard Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) poured in a game-high 21 points, contributing to her double-double with ten rebounds. Freshman forward Breanna Cashman (Norwich, N.Y.) added nine points, while junior forward Breeana Williams (Bloomfield, Conn.) scored six points and six boards.
For the Lions, senior forward Kristin Brice (Indiana, Penn.) contributed a double-double, scoring 1,000 career points. Junior forward Kelsey Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.) came off the bench to lead all Lions with 15 points and five boards, while Brice followed with 13 points. Junior guard Janissa Delzo finished with 12 total points.
The two teams battled for a majority of the first half, trading baskets until one minute remained in the first stanza. Emerson pulled away with a four point lead when Johnson went on a 4-0 run, putting the Lions up at halftime 25-21.
A Stopera jumper gave Lasell 23 on the board to open the second half, but was soon avenged by an eight point run from the Lions.
With 1:11 left in regulation, the Lasers sliced deficit to four when Stopera rebounded the ball to score a layup. Cashman knocked down two at the line to trail the visitors by just two points with 39 seconds to go. Emerson tightened up defensively, keeping the score at 54-53 until the final whistle.
Lasell shot 23.3% overall, shooting 46.7% from downtown and 60.0% at the line. The Lions shots 36.4% from the floor and 46.4% from the free throw line.
The Lasers will host Plymouth State University on Tuesday, December 9th for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff, while the Lions host Mount Ida College on Monday, December 8th at 7:00 p.m.