The Lesley University men's basketball team finished with a 5-20 record overall and failed to make the conference playoffs for the first time in the four year existence of the program.  The Lynx, however, are optimistic that this season was just a bump in a road towards their aspirations for a New England Collegiate Conference championship.

Lesley relied heavily on a strong inside presence from Jesus Trejo (Methuen, Mass.) and Malcolm Andrews (Medford, Mass.) who were in the top two in scoring, rebounding, and blocks on the season. 

Trejo, a 6'8" sophomore with impressive low-post moves and the ability to attack the glass on both the offensive and defensive ends, averaged a double-double on the season with 13.7 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game.  Trejo blocked 38 shots for an average of 1.5 blocks per game.  He was the only Lynx player to earn NECC All-Conference honors as he made the Honorable Mention squad.

Andrews, a 6'5" senior who can score from the outside as well as from inside the paint, netted 10.1 points per game and grabbed 8.0 rebounds per game.  Andrews was second on the team in made three-pointers with 20.  It was his intensity on the court, however, that pushed the Lynx to remain competitive throughout the season.

The Lynx got early victories over Wentworth Institute of Technology and Curry College to start the season off 2-3 against some tough non-conference opponents.  In the 77-74 win against Wentworth, Trejo and Andrews led the team offensively with 28 and 16 points, respectively.  Against Curry, Lesley sophomore transfer Nijel Robinson (Plainsboro, N.J.) and Jonathan Cruz (Haverhill, Mass.) scored 17 points each in a 79-71 triumph over Curry.

After four straight losses, the Lynx rebounded in a big way against Curry once again as Lesley forced overtime and beat the Colonels 78-75.  Trejo nearly tallied a 20-20 game with 26 points and 19 rebounds.  Robinson and Cruz added 17 and 15 points as the Lynx ended non-conference play with a 3-7 record. 

With New England Collegiate Conference play approaching the Lynx hoped to get back on the winning track but started off 0-7 against NECC opponents.  Lesley managed just two wins against NECC foes, a 59-57 triumph over Wheelock College and a thrilling 69-67 overtime win over Mitchell College. 

Despite their losing record, Lesley's freshman class showed some promise as Bryant Itonyo (Medford, Mass.), Jaime Bolano (Weston, Fla.) and Justin Askari (Woodland Hills, Calif.) played in their first seasons for the Lynx.  Itonyo had his best game against Southern Vermont College as the guard netted 14 points on 5-of-10 from the floor, including four three-pointers.  Bolano was one of the better ball handlers on the team and averaged over an assist per game.  Askari was a sharp shooter from long range, hitting 36.6% attempts from three-point land with his best game coming against Southern Vermont with four made three-pointers. 

Lesley will be graduating three seniors, two of which were regular starters.  With a strong recruiting class coming in, the Lynx be able to once against be a factor in who wins the NECC Championship in upcoming seasons. 

To learn more about the Lesley University women's basketball team, please visit their website.

Contact:          Rob Palardy
                        Sports Information Director
                        Lesley University
                        617.349.8627 (office)
                        617.349.8640 (fax)
                        rpalardy@lesley.edu