CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University senior Emily Fleming (Medford, Mass.) and sophomore Ari Dimou (Manchester, N.H.) combined to score 33 points to lead the Lynx to a 64-51 win over Southern Vermont College in a Saturday matinee at Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols. The win improves the Lynx to 2-16 on the year and 2-9 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) play while the Mountaineers fall to 4-14 overall and 2-9 in the conference.
Dimou's game-high 17 marks the third straight game where she finished with at least 17 points, while she added nine boards and a game-high four steals in the winning effort. Fleming's 16 points came off an efficient 7-of-11 day from the floor as she added three assists and three rebounds. Senior Nicole Mercurio (Wakefield, Mass.) pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds and chipped in with eight points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field while classmate Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) dished out a game-high six assists.
SVC sophomore Javasha White (Schenectady, N.Y.) recorded her first double-double of the season with ten points and 12 rebounds while classmates Amber Flagg (Windsor, Conn.) and Sarah McDonald (Cohoes, N.Y.) were also in double figures with 12 points apiece. McDonald was tough down lown as she registered a game-high four blocks. Sophomore Kala MacKenzie (Fair Haven, Vt.) chipped in with seven points and while grabbing nine caroms in the loss.
The Lynx were active on the defensive end, forcing 22 Mountaineer turnovers that turned into 21 points for the Green and White. The Lynx held a slim margin on the glass, as well, holding a slim 57-54 edge.
SVC held the hot hand as they shot 39.5-percent (15-of-38) in the opening twenty minutes, but were held to just 20.6-percent (7-of-34) in the second half. The Lynx, who were held to just 27-percent (10-of-37) in the opening session, drained 34-percent (15-of-44) of their shots in the final half in which they outscored the visitors by a 37-17 margin. Both teams finished the game with an identical 31-percent shooting percentage.
The Mountaineers held a 12-5 advantage with just under 16-minutes to play in the first half, but three consecutive Fleming buckets would quickly dwindle down SVC's lead to two, 12-10. SVC trumped Fleming's run with back-to-back treys to spark a 10-4 streak to regain control with a 22-14 edge.
Lesley would climb within four with just six minutes left before the break, but SVC would end the half on an 11-7 run to take a 34-27 edge into halftime.
The Mountaineers opened the second with a 6-2 run to take their biggest lead of the afternoon, 41-29. The Lynx answered with a 9-0 streak anchored by a Dimou trey from the left wing to cut the lead to three, 41-38. SVC would push the lead back to seven, 45-38, following a MacKenzie free throw and a Flagg three pointer, but then the Lynx took over.
Lesley stormed back with a 22-0 run over the next eight minutes to take a commanding 60-45 lead as they rolled to the 64-51 final. Dimou sparked the streak with two straight trey's while sophomore Jackie Ewing (Hong Kong) scored all seven of her points on the run. Junior Grace Amato (South Royalton, Vt.) chipped in with five of her nine points on the day while Fleming and Mercurio each had two on the streak.
Both teams will be back in NECC on Tuesday. The Lynx will play host to Regis College at 8:00p while SVC will return home to play Elms College at 7:00p.