CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Lesley University women's basketball team continued to hold the first place position in the New England Collegiate Conference heading into the playoffs after a 67-56 triumph over Elms College on Thursday evening.  Brianne Caira (Pelham, N.H.) scored a career-high 29 points in the victory.

Caira was 9-of-14 from the floor and 11-of-14 from the free throw line in what was an overall offensively efficient evening for the Lynx.  The sophomore center also grabbed 16 rebounds to complete her second double-double of the season.  Caira also recorded seven blocks and dished out three assists.

Elms' Amanda Brogna (Oxford, Mass.) turned in another solid performance for the Blazers with 20 points and 14 rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive glass.  Tomie Lafond (Harfield, Mass.) was the only other Blazer to score double-digit points as the junior came off the bench to net 10 points in 18 minutes on the court. 

The score was close for the majority of the game as the two teams exchanged the lead 11 times.  With just under eight minutes remaining and the score tied at 42-42, the Lynx went on a 14-3 run to separate from the Blazers.  During this stretch run, Hailee Lowe (Hamilton, Mass.) and Kaitlyn Wechsler (Merrick, N.Y.) combined for 11 of Lesley's 14 points. 

Lowe would finish the game with 14 points and seven rebounds while Wechsler had 10 points. 

The Lynx also got solid play out of their senior point guard Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.) who had three steals and two assists to go along with nine points. 

Elms' freshman guard Carolyn Talmadge (Wilbraham, Mass.) recorded a game-high seven assists and scored nine points in 39 minutes.

With the victory, Lesley improved their program-best record to 14-9 (13-1 NECC) while Elms dropped to 13-11 (11-4 NECC).  The Lynx will host Daniel Webster College on Saturday night at 6:00 pm for Senior Night as the team honors Lani Cabral-Pini, Christina DiGiorgio (Lowell, Mass.), and Kelly Harrington (Toledo, Ohio).

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