NEWTON, Mass. – Junior transfer Amanda Ortiz (Newton, Mass.) scored a game-high 22 points Tuesday evening as Lasell College won its season opener over Northern Vermont University-Johnson, 68-44, in non-conference women's basketball action at the Lasell Athletic Center.
Ortiz made 10-of-21 shots from the field and added nine steals and six rebounds in her Laser debut. Junior transfer D'Asia Allen (Providence, R.I.) added eight points off the bench and graduate student Imani Bumpus (Dedham, Mass.) and senior Liz Bougie (Sanford, Maine) chipped in with seven points apiece in the victory.
Junior Lindsey LaPerle (Bethel, Vt.) led the Badgers with 16 points, and freshman Alexandra Barry (Hopewell Jct., N.Y.) contributed nine points off the bench. Barry, senior Kaitlyn Brouard (Milton, Vt.) and sophomore Emily Marshall (Malone, N.Y.) shared team-high honors with seven rebounds apiece.
Lasell jumped out to an early 11-1 lead in the first four minutes of the game, keyed by nine points from Ortiz. The Badgers battled back and pulled to within three (15-12) late in the opening quarter before ending the frame down six (18-12).
Ortiz made the first two baskets of the second quarter to push the lead back up to double digits (22-12), and the Lasers pushed the margin up to 29-12 while keeping the visitors scoreless the first four minutes of the quarter. Lasell maintained the comfortable lead and took a 43-20 advantage into halftime.
The Laser defense kept the Badgers off the scoreboard for the first five minutes of the third quarter, ballooning their lead to 30 points (51-31), and Johnson got no closer than 20 points the rest of the way. Lasell was able to get playing time for many of the reserves as 17 different players got into the game.
Lasell (1-0) will face a huge challenge this weekend at the Middlebury College Tournament, facing host Middlebury on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Tufts University Saturday at 2:00 p.m. NVU-Johnson (0-3) visits in-state rival Castleton University Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
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