Lasers' Updates 02/11/2009

Men's Basketball

The Lasers remain atop the GNAC standings after going 3-1 for the week in four conference match ups. Lasell played tremendous defense and was able to run away with a 61-39 victory over Albertus Magnus. Lasell's defense held the Falcons to only 20% shooting for the game. Jose Guitian (Miami, FL) once again played incredibly strong, scoring 24 points and pulling down 24 boards. Freshman Kevin Richard (New Orleans, LA) dished out 8 assists to go along with 7 rebounds and Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, MA) chipped in with 10 points.

Next the Lasers defeated Johnson & Wales by a score of 85-71. Senior guard Junior Sainval (Miami, FL) started the game off with a bang nailing three straight 3-pointers. Sainval finished with 14 points and an impressive 9 rebounds. Guitian led all players with 26 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

Lasell then hosted pre-season favorites and red hot Emmanuel College. A rough first half put the Lasers in a hole, trailing by 14 at the half. The Saints lead stayed around 14 until the twelve minute mark when Javon Williams (Mattapan, Mass.) came off the bench to provide a much needed spark for the Lasers. Williams ignited an 18-4 stretch in favor of Lasell starting with a traditional 3-point play, followed by a steal and an offensive board and dish for a three-pointer by Charles Horton (Worcester, Mass.). Emmanuel then responded with a 12-2 run and the Lasers never recovered, losing 85-77. Guitian was Lasell's only double digit scorer with 38 points and 12 rebounds.

The men's team closed the week out by going on the road and defeating rival Mount Ida, 73-70. The Lasers were in control early talking a 36-20 lead into the break and eventually pushing the lead to twenty in the 2nd half, but the Mustangs came back. Two huge runs tied the game late, but Lasell kept their composure and held on for a three point victory. Williams had a career best 19 points and 7 rebounds in the victory, playing extremely well throughout. Guitian also pitched in 19 to go along with 6 boards. Sainval had 11 and Richard had 6 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.

Guitian repeated this week as Player of the Week on the GNAC, ECAC, and D3Hoops.com team of the week lists. The 6'10" senior captain put up incredible numbers once again, averaging 29.33 points, 18.0 rebounds, 1.67 assists, and 3.33 blocks per game.Guitian is still ranked first in the GNAC in points (24.0 per game), rebounds (13.9 per game), and blocked shots (2.2 per game). He is also ranked nationally in each of those categories, 2nd nationally in rebounding, 7th in points, and 20th in blocked shots.

After 22 games this season, Lasell finished the week at 15-7, and 12-3 in the GNAC.

Women's Basketball

The Lasell women's basketball team finished the week off with a bright note, turning around a game that they were lagging the entire contest, to beat Mount Ida 64-60 at home. The win brought their record to 7-15 overall, and 4-5 in the GNAC, with three more conference contests to go in the regular season.

The Lasers played against Rivier College on Wednesday, taking a 92-54 home court loss to the Raiders. Shauna Kelly (Quincy, Mass.), the Lasers leading scorer, came up with 24 points, six rebounds, 2 assists and three steals, but it was not enough to overcome the four Raiders who scored double-figures. Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) added nine points and three boards for Lasell, and Tricia Culver (North Hampton, Mass.) ended the night with 8 points and 8 rebounds.

Simmons then stole a road contest from the Lasers, 66-45 on the Sharks home court. Standing at third in the GNAC currently, the Sharks went on short, but significant runs to give them an eighteen point halftime lead. JoAnna Bishop (South Burlington, VT) and Kelsey Converse (Laconia, NH) combined for fifteen second half points as the Lasers attempted to push back on Simmons, but they were unsuccessful at closing the gap.

The Lasers final contest came at home this week, when neighboring Mount Ida came to visit. The Lasers trailed for the entire contest, but kept the game within reach, and struck in the final minutes of the game to conclude with a four point victory.

Culver tied the game with nearly two minutes on the clock, but it was Katie Schumitz (Milford, Conn.) who pulled the Lasers ahead with a trey from the right wing. The Lasers held onto their lead with free throws by Farr, Kelly, and Schumitz.

Men's Volleyball

The Lasell College men's volleyball team went 3-2 this week and 1-1 in the GNAC. The Lasers started out with a dramatic five set lost to University of New Haven, which culminated with twenty five extra points. The Lasers then picked up a GNAC win in three sets at Emerson College, and two more victories over the weekend, sweeping the Lasers' first tri-match. The final game of the week was against GNAC preseason favorite, and no. 6 nationally Rivier College. Though the Lasers played tight with the Raiders through the contest, Rivier eventually snagged the match.

At the University of New Haven, Lasell took the first and fourth sets from the Chargers, and came back from behind in the fifth, but lost the final set 16-14. Dan Rogers (Belchertown, Mass.) was dominant in the middle for the Lasers, notching 13 kills, and Andy Cass (Wakefield, RI) was huge both offensively and defensively for Lasell with 12 kills and 13 digs.

Brendan McGourn (Southington, Conn.) had 48 assists to go along with a game-high 14 digs, while senior libero Joe Lipski (Burlington, Conn.) contributed 13 digs in the match.

The Lasers then took a victory from first year program, Emerson College. The Lasers ran away with a three set match as Dustin Foster (Ashford, Conn.) completed 10 kills and six service aces in the Lasers' efforts. Dan Rogers added 9 kills and 3 aces, and McGourn tallied 29 assists.

In the Lasers first ever tri-match, Lasell swept both Lesley University and Lancaster Bible College, 3-0. Dan Rogers and D. Foster were both unstoppable at the net, Rogers hit 100% against Lesley, for seven kills, and Foster went 6 for 7, and had five consecutive service aces. The duo also each put down 11 kills in the middle against Lancaster Bible.

Dave Rogers (Belchertown, Mass.) went up for ten kills against Lancaster, and Lipski prowled the court for 13 digs.

When Lasell hosted Rivier for the final contest this week, the Raiders middle hitters were forces both hitting and blocking, thus causing the Lasers to have to adjust. Lasell kept the games close but could not steal a set from the visitors, who remained undefeated in the conference.

Cass had a team-high twelve kills, making smart decisions to find holes in the Raiders defense. Foster and Dave Rogers followed suit with eight and six kills respectively. Dave Rogers also added 3 aces and six digs. Lipski concluded with seven dug balls and McGourn had 29 assists and 5 digs.

For his efforts this week, McGourn was selected as the GNAC Rookie of the Week. McGourn was chosen after averaging 10.59 assists per game and 2.29 digs per game, while also producing two double-doubles over the week.

Upcoming games:

Friday, February 13th

• Men's volleyball vs. Johnson & Wales, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 14th

• Men's basketball SENIOR DAY vs. Suffolk, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's basketball @ Emmanuel, 1:00 p.m.
• Men's volleyball @ Elms w/ Wentworth, 2:00/4:00p.m.

Tuesday, February 17th

PINK ZONE GAME

• Women's Basketball SENIOR DAY vs. Norwich, 6:00 p.m.
• Men's basketball vs. Emerson, 8:00 p.m.
• Men's volleyball @ Mount Ida, 7:00 p.m.