GAME OVERVIEW:

Chicopee, Mass-Lesley started and finished strongly in their NECC conference game at Elms College on Saturday afternoon, but it was the two quarters in between that proved to be their downfall. The Lynx outscored the Blazers in the final quarter, 17-12 but it was not enough to claim the conference victory. Lesley's record with just two games remaining in the regular season is 4-19 and 4-10 in conference, while Elms are 8-13 overall and 7-6 in conference games.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• A pair of free throws from Elms' Kayla Soto made it 7-7 with just over four minutes to play in the opening quarter. It was the third time that the teams were tied already in the game. Abby Henderson led Lesley with two layups and also a free throw.
• Dakota Jones pounded the paint on both sides of the ball with rebounds and gave the Lynx a four point lead before Theresa Pereira sunk two free throws to give the Lynx a 13-12 advantage at the end of the first. 
• The second quarter was initially tight as the teams traded scores with Jones levelling the game up at 18 points each from a free throw after Angelica Peguero-Flo committed a foul. 
• Soon after, the Blazers took control and went on an 8-0 run with Kylie Lounder and McKenzie Larochelle both finding the target for the Blazers with a variety of shots.
• Jones snapped the Blazers streak with two free throws but it was only a brief interruption as Elms continued to play at a fast pace and their energy was rewarded with a 32-23 half-time lead.
• The Lynx needed a quick start to the third quarter to have a chance of winning but they were unable to manage that as the Blazers embarked on a 14 point run with Peguero-Flo shooting for six points during that spell of dominance.
• Lesley did manage to bag 10 points in the quarter, starting with a Jones layup and ending with a Karyn McEvoy free throw. However, the Blazers had a nice cushion of 50-33 at the conclusion of the third quarter. 
• The Lynx four of the first five baskets in the last quarter with the scores coming from Jones and Linda Wallentine. The good start was encouraging for Lesley but still it was not making too much of an impact on the scoreline as the Blazers recovered and went as far as 16 points clear when Soto canned a free throw. 
• Jones ontinued to display her talent with six points inside the last five minutes of play. The final score of the afternoon came from the Blazers Lounder who scored with a layup from an offensive rebound to give her team a 12 point win.
• Lesley were more clinical than the hosts from short range with 30 points in the paint compared to 28 for Elms College.
• The winners were able to call on eight reserves to play who combined to land 12 points while Lesley had only two reserves available who are unable to add to their sides tally.

STAT LEADERS:

LESLEY

Dakota Jones 20 points, 18 rebounds

Karyn McEvoy 11 points, 2 steals

ELMS

Kayla Soto 16 points, 8 rebounds

Angelica Peguero-Flo 10 points, 9 rebounds

THE INSIDE SCOOP:

Lesley head coach Jake Mattleman on only having seven players available for the Blazers game. "[It] Definitely hurts when you only have 7 healthy bodies but they gave us everything they had. We fought every single possession and launched a great comeback in the second half. Moving forward our efforts must be consistent like they were today."

 NEXT UP:

Lesley hosts Newbury College in a NECC clash on Tuesday, February 13th at 8pm, while Elms College have no day to rest as they welcome Dean College for a conference game on Sunday, February 11 at 2pm.