PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Visiting Lasell College made two runs at the Johnson & Wales University women's basketball team Saturday afternoon, but both times the Wildcats had an answer and held on for a 64-47 victory in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game.
The host Wildcats improve to 8-6 overall and 4-1 in the GNAC, while the Lasers drop to 2-9 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
Senior Morgan Church (New London, N.H.) led all scorers with 20 points for Lasell, connecting on a pair of three-pointers and eight free throws. Sophomore Dana Ross (East Haven, Conn.) scored 10 points for the visitors and junior Jaime Caron (Derry, N.H.) collected a team-high eight rebounds.
Ally Mishol (Longmeadow, Mass.) led the winners with 14 points and 19 rebounds, while Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, R.I.) chipped in with 13 points and seven assists.
Johnson & Wales got out to a fast start, building a 12-3 lead on a Gabrielle Nicastri (East Greenwich, R.I.) jumper. The Lasers cut the lead to two, but the Wildcats built it back up to 30-14 on an Emily Beauvais (Greenville, N.H.) jump shot. JWU outscored Lasell 15-9 in the second quarter to take a 32-19 halftime lead.
The Lasers came out of the locker room on fire, outscoring the hosts 16-7 to pull within 37-35 on a layup by freshman Devyn Markland (Derby, Conn.). Ross, Church and senior Brianna Hoffman (Milford, N.H.) hit consecutive three-pointers to spark the rally.
Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, RI) responded with a three-pointer for JWU and Sarah Duryea (Middle Village, NY) added another to push the lead back to 43-35. A Kristen Habbel (Phoenixville, Pa.) three-ball two minutes into the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 10 and the Lasers never got it under double digits the rest of the game.
The Lasers didn't take advantage of their opportunities at the free throw line, going 10-of-20 while the Wildcats were 9-of-10.
Lasell plays its next two games at home, beginning Tuesday (Jan. 16) with a GNAC matchup against Norwich University (7:00 p.m.) The Wildcats travel to Simmons Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest.
(With contributions from Johnson & Wales Sports Information)
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