NEWTON, Mass. (1/19/16) – The Lasell College women's basketball team topped the visiting Cadets of Norwich University 74-72 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action Tuesday evening in the Athletic Center. The Lasers jump to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the GNAC, while the Cadets drop to 9-8 on the year and 2-3 in league play.

STAT LEADERS FOR LASELL

Senior guard Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) dominated the floor with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Senior guard Deanna Barrett (Berlin, Conn.) followed with 18 points and eight boards, while sophomore forward Brianna Hoffman (Mildford, N.H.) rounded out double digit scorers for the starting five with 17 points. Freshman Liz Bougie (Sanford, Maine) came off the pine to score 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the floor to go along with a perfect 2-for-2 at the free throw line.

STAT LEADERS FOR NORWICH

Despite the deficit, all but one of the starting Cadets reached double digits on the stat sheet as junior forward Heather LeBlanc (Sanford, Maine) led the charge with team-high 18 points and 14 rebounds. Arianna Harrison (Vernon, Vt.) turned a double-double in the effort as well, with 12 points on the night and a game-best 19 boards. Sophomore guard Shyann Josler (Thetford, Vt.) and junior guard Kayla Mercer (New Britain, Conn.) capped the offense with 13 points apiece.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In an evenly balanced first half, the Lasers held a 38-37 advantage before pulling away from the Cadets in the third quarter. In a montage of baskets from Hoffman, Barrett, and a three-point basket from Stopera, the Lasers held a comfortable 59-50 heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.

The Cadets would not go quietly, as they went on a torrid 12-0 stretch to overturn the score, 62-59. Josler knotted the game at 64 all with 3:27 left to go, where the Lasers took the game for their own with Stopera igniting the charge with a deep three pointer from Barrett. Freshman guard Emily Oliver (Sagamore Hills, Ohio) shot into an and-1, but the effort would not work out in the visitors favor as the Lasers came out with the 74-72 victory. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Lasell edged the Cadets on all aspects of the floor with 44.4% field goal shooting, 45.0% shooting from three-point territory, and 75.0% shooting from the charity stripe. Norwich's high-rebounders came them a 44-37 advantage on the glass, and put away 19 second chance points compared to Lasell's four.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Lasers will resume the Athletic Center court on Thursday, January 21 for a 7:00 p.m. matchup with Framingham State, while the Cadets welcome Albertus Magnus on Saturday, January 23 in a GNAC roundup at 3:00 p.m.