Basketball Holds Off Elms, 60-55
CHICOPEE, Mass. (Nov. 27, 2007) - Junior guard Katie Austen (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai) exploded for 22 points to lead the Mount Holyoke College women's basketball team to a 60-55 victory over non-conference foe Elms College this evening at the Maguire Center. It was the Lyons first win of the 2007-08 campaign.
Austen made 7-of-12 shots from the field and converted 8-of-11 from the free throw stripe in the contest. Mount Holyoke also received solid production from sophomore forward Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) , who recorded her third double-double of the season on 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. First year guards Amber Sinicrope (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) and Emilie Methot (South Hadley, Mass./Granby) tallied seven points apiece, and Sinicrope added nine boards.
Leading the way for Elms (1-3) was junior guard Jenn Payton (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell), who drained three shots from beyond the arc en route to a squad-best 19 points. Sophomore forward Amanda Brogna (Oxford, Mass./Oxford) totaled nine points and 11 rebounds, while senior guard Michelle Fernandes (Danbury, Conn./Immaculate) added ten points, three assists and three steals.
Mount Holyoke trailed by seven (12-5) in the early going but used a 12-3 run to take its first lead of the game (17-15) midway through the first half. The Blazers responded with nine straight points over the next two minutes to push their lead back to seven (24-17).
From there, the Lyons took control of the contest, outscoring Elms 15-5 to close out the opening frame. First year Avery Gardner (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) knocked down a pair of three-pointers during the stretch, as the guests built a 32-29 halftime advantage.
Mount Holyoke extended its cushion to eight (41-33) following three straight layups by Austen early in the second stanza. The Lyons led by 11 (53-42) with just under five minutes remaining in regulation, but Elms exploded for nine straight points to slice the deficit to just two (53-51).
Olson put an end to the comeback attempt with a layup at the 2:09 mark. She then iced things with a pair of free throws on Mount Holyoke's ensuing possession.
The Lyons (1-3, 0-0 NEWMAC) will hit the hardwood again on Thursday, when they host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for a non-conference tilt at 7:00 p.m.
Game Statistics
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