Posted: Jan 13, 2015
HENNIKER, N.H. – Lasell College fell to New England College in women's basketball action by a score of 75-55 on Tuesday evening. With the win the Pilgrims improve to 11-2 on the season, while the loss drops the Lasers to 4-8 overall.
Lasell was led by Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) who finished with a game-high 20 points and pulled down five rebounds. Lasell's Deanna Barrett was the only other Laser in double-figures chipping in with 15 points.
New England College senior forward Taylor Burgess (Randallstown, Md.) finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists leading the Pilgrims to the victory.
New England College would lead by as many as 11 in the opening half up 21-10 midway through before Lasell would respond with a 16-2 run grabbing the lead going up 26-23 with 5:28 left to play. The Lasers would lead by as many as seven late in the half but the Pilgrims would get the final three points of the half and head into the intermission trailing just 35-33.
The Pilgrims would turn up the pressure in the second half of play opening the half on a 17-2 run to rebuild their lead to 51-37 just six minutes into the half. NEC would lead by as many as 21 and not let up holding the Lasers to just 23% shooting from the field in the second half en route to the eventual 75-55 victory.
In addition to Burgess the Pilgrims were led by senior guard Kayla Lawlor (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) who finished with a team-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 5-for-7 from beyond three point range. NEC's Tiffany Davis (Baltimore, Md.) led all rebounders with 13 on the evening, while Marjani Lillard (Bowie, Md.) chipped in nine points for the Pilgrims.
NEC will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 16 when they host conference opponent Maine Maritime Academy. Lasell will open their Great Northeast Athletic Conference schedule when they travel to Boston, Mass. to take on Simmons College on Thursday, Jan. 15.