Lasers' Updates 01/14/2009

Men's Basketball

The Lasers remain unbeaten in the GNAC as they opened 2009 with two conference wins this week.  Lasell broke out with a 90-83 win over Albertus Magnus on Saturday, January 10th, and then brought home their second win of the season over Norwich University on Tuesday, January 13th to stay a perfect 5-0 in the league so far. 

Lasell's senior center Jose Guitian (Miami, FL) led for the Lasers with 24 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks against the Falcons.  Guitian also became the all-time leading rebounder in Lasell's men's basketball history at the game, breaking the previous record of 853 career boards, held by Demetrius DeJesus.   The new record now stands at 879 boards, and is growing as the Lasers still have 14 regular season games this year to compete in.  Guitian looks to become the first Lasell men's basketball player to record 1,000 rebounds in his career.

Currently ranked 7th in all of Division III men's basketball in rebounding (out of 500 ranked players), Guitian is averaging 11.4 boards per game.  He is also ranked 28th in the NCAA in pointer per game, averaging 21.5.

Also pushing the Lasers to victory was fellow senior captain Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, Mass.) who went 5-11 from downtown on his way to 21 points.  Junior Sainval (Miami, FL) and Kevin Fallon (Manasquan, NJ) added 12 and 11 points respectively, and Corey Godfrey (Cambridge, Mass.) chipped in another ten.

Following the win at Albertus, Lasell ran away with a 93-68 win over the Cadets of Norwich University.   This is the second time this season the teams have met, and the second victory for Lasell, having previously beaten them 100-69.  Guitian once again recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, game-bests in both categories.  An outstanding performance for Guitain all around, the senior also chipped in 6 assists, 3 blocks and 3 steals.  

Sainval shot an impressive 8-9 from the field and 3-3 from behind the arc to finish with 19 points, while also collecting 6 rebounds against the Cadets.  Godfrey shot 100% from the field, adding 15 points along with 3 steals and 5 boards.

Guitian is not the only Laser that is currently ranked nationally.  Caravoulias also moved up to 12th (out of 500) in three point field goals per game, averaging 3.6 and is 16th in three-point field goal percentage (48.6%). 

Kevin Richard (New Orleans, LA) continues to impress at the point for the Lasers, having dished out 14 assists throughout the week.  Richard, only a freshman, is nationally ranked in the top twenty in two categories, assists per game (16th, 6.4 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (13th, 2.91).  

The Lasers are currently 7-4 overall this season and play next on Saturday, January 17th at Emmanuel, at 1:00 p.m.

Women's Basketball

The Laser women went 1-2 this week overall and split 1-1 in conference play.  The Lasers first opened up the second semester against a tough Western Connecticut State University team in non-conference play.  The Colonials, who are on an eight game win streak, used their significant height advantage to run away with a 93-53 victory.

Senior guard Shauna Kelly (Quincy, Mass.) battled her way to a Laser-high 19 points and 6 rebounds in the matchup.  Junior forward Tricia Culver (N. Hampton, Mass.) followed closely behind with 17 points and 4 boards.  Kelly is currently leading all scorers and rebounders this season for Lasell, averaging 17.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds.  Culver is second in both categories with 12.8 points per game and 6.2 rebounds.

Lasell then traveled to Albertus Magnus on Saturday, January 10th to face the Falcons in their first GNAC match of the season.  The Lasers led 43-37 at the half and though the Falcons tied the game twice in the second half, the Lasers pushed ahead to come away with a 79-72 conference win. 

Kelly shined once again for Lasell, setting her personal career record for points in a game with 31.  She also ripped down seven rebounds, had three assists and two steals to complete her evening.  Kelly shot 11-12 from the free throw line down the stretch. 

Culver recorded a double-double against Albertus, with 18 points and 10 boards, and senior guard Katie Schumitz (Milford, Conn.) added 14 points in the win.

Upon return to their home court, the Lasers faced Johnson & Wales University on Tuesday evening.  Schumitz had an impressive second half, scoring all fifteen of her points in the stanza and pushing to come back from behind, the Lasers dropped the contest 70-57.  Schumitz added seven boards, three assists, a block and a steal in her efforts.

Kelly, playing nearly the entire game, picked up 13 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with 4 assists and one block.  Culver added 7 boards, and sophomore point guard Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) picked up five points and rebounds each.

The Lasers are now 4-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play. 

Lasell travels next to Curry College on Thursday, January 15th for a 7:00 tip off.

Upcoming games:

Men's Basketball-

Saturday, January 17 @ Emmanuel, 1:00 p.m.

Monday, January 19 vs. Mount Ida 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 22 vs. Keene State 7:00 p.m.

Women's Basketball-

Thursday, January 15 @ Curry College, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 17 @ St. Joseph's CT 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 20th vs. Emerson 7:00 p.m.

Home games are bold.