CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Lesley University women's basketball team dropped their season-opener to Pine Manor College 90-44 in non-conference action tonight at the Nicholas Athletics Center. The Lynx start the season at 0-1 with the loss while the Gators even their 2015-16 record to 1-1.
Lesley started off strong in the opening quarter as they jumped out to a 9-5 lead. Senior Ari Dimou (Manchester, N.H.) paced the run with a triple from the top of the key and a jumper from 18-feet before Hannah Levensailor (Ayer, Mass.) capped the charge with a layup. The Gators would answer with three straight made free throws before a layup by Sybil Lynch (Hoboken, N.J.) gave the guests their first lead of the night, one that they would not surrender the rest of the way. The Gators defense was excellent for the remainder of the quarter as they forced five turnovers and held the Lynx scoreless over the last 4:55 of the quarter and ended the first with a 23-9 lead.
The tough Gator defense continued in the second quarter as they outscored their hosts 23-4 as they rolled into the break with a 47-13 lead. PMC would extend their biggest lead of the night to 46 in the fourth quarter to cap their first win of the season 90-44.
Lesley sophomore Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) boasted a team-high 14 points to go with five rebounds and three steals while senior Anthea Rathens (Sudbury, Mass.) pulled down a career-high 17 boards and eight points. Sophomore Lilly Donovan (Newburyport, Mass.) added four points and ten rebounds and Dimou finished with six points.
Lynch led the Gators with a game-best 28 points on 10-20 shooting, including a 6-15 effort from beyond the arc. Senior Alexis Lee (Akron, Ohio) finished with 25 points for the guests while classmate Erica Jones (Atlanta, Ga.) added 12 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Cadeija Matthews-Austin (Boston, Mass.) led all players with 10 helpers while also swiping four steals on the night.
Pine Manor manufactured their offense from their defense as they converted 38 Lynx turnovers into 39 points while outscoring their hosts 26-4 in fast break opportunities.
The Lynx will return to play on Friday when they play in day one of the Gordon College Tournament. Lesley will battle the Fighting Scots at 5:30p before returning to play Wentworth on Saturday at 1:00p.
The Gators have a much quicker turnaround as they return to action tomorrow night when they open their home schedule against Johnson and Wales at 7:30p.