CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Becker College received double-doubles from Ciara McKissick (Charlton, Mass.), Adrianna Dowdy (East Haven, Conn.), and Gabrielle Gallo (Northport, N.Y.) as they Hawks sprinted past Lesley University 67-47 in New England Collegiate Conference women's basketball action today at the Nicholas Athletics Center.
McKissick finished with 15 points, 11 boards, and seven assists and Dowdy dumped in 14 points and grabbed ten rebounds while Gallo capped the double-double trifecta with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to power the visitors attack.
The win snaps a five-game losing skid as the Hawks improve to 2-9 on the season and 1-3 in NECC play while the Lynx dip to 1-9 overall and 0-4 in the conference.
Lesley's Theresa Pereira (Hopedale, Mass.) started 2016 the same way she ended 2015 as she finished in double-figures for the fourth straight game. The sophomore guard led all players with 18 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals. Senior Ari Dimou (Manchester, N.H.) also finished in double-figures for the hosts, as she went for 16 points, five boards, and three assists. Sophomore Courtney Goggin (Cheshire, Conn.) added four points while junior Hannah Levensailor (Ayer, Mass.) pulled down a team-best eight caroms.
A Pereira layup and Goggin jumper gave the Lynx an early 4-0 edge before the Hawks would go on a 9-4 run to close out the opening quarter. Pereira would start the scoring in the second quarter with a three from the wing to give the Lynx an 11-9 lead.
With 3:39 left in the quarter and Lesley holding a slim 18-17 edge, a Becker jumper by Avrie Bassingthwaite (Swanzey, N.H.) would spark a 13-2 run to put the guests up 30-20 heading into halftime. The run featured a balanced attack that saw five different Hawks score points.
Becker would continue that momentum after the break as they opened the third quarter on an 11-4 streak to push the lead to 41-24. McKissick powered the stretch for the guests as she poured in seven of her 15 points during the run. The Hawks offense would continue to press on as they extended their lead by as many as 26 in the third, aided by 52% shooting from the floor in the quarter.
Katey Anderson (Beachwood, N.J.), Erin Gaudette (Spencer, Mass.), and Bassingthwaite each finished with five points for the Hawks while Tanaisha Espino (Southbridge, Mass.) came off the bench to provide six points for the guests.
The Hawks finished with game shooting 34% (25-of-73) from the field while holding their counterparts to just 27% (20-of-74) on the day. Becker used their height to their advantage and dominated down low as they held a distinct 69-40 advantage on the glass and outscored Lesley 36-18 in the paint.
Both teams will return to NECC action on Tuesday. The Lynx will travel to Wheelock College for a tilt with the Wildcats at 6:30p while the Hawks will welcome Elms College at 6:00p.