CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Lesley University women's basketball finished off the 2008-2009 regular season with their most successful record in the history of the program at 15-10 (14-2 New England Collegiate Conference) and now find themselves in prime position to win the NECC Championship as the number two seed. 

The Lynx have prided themselves on being efficient offensively, outrebounding their opponents, and playing stellar defense during the course of the season and as a team they have lived up to those expectations.  Lesley finished first in field goal percentage (41.3%), second in free-throw percentage (69.0%), second in rebound margin (+10.2), and first in field goal percentage on defense (28.8%). 

It will be even more important to hold an advantage in these categories as the Lynx travel down to New London, Connecticut to face a #3 Elms College squad that split the two meetings against Lesley this season.  Winning the battle on the boards, playing strong transition defense, and making free-throws will all be crucial to controlling the tempo of the game. 

Offensively, the Lynx will continue to look towards First Team All-Conference forward Hailee Lowe (Hamilton, Mass.) who averaged 17.9 points per game against NECC opponents.  Lowe was the clear go-to player on the court for the Lynx as the junior proved that her low-post technique and effective outside shooting made her one of the premiere players in the conference.

Second Team All-Conference player Kaitlyn Wechsler (Merrick, N.Y.) and Brianne Caira (Pelham, N.H.) are a couple of sophomore starters that Lesley will have to rely upon for consistent play in the postseason.  Wechsler led the Lynx with efficient shooting as she hit 49.8% of her field goal attempts and sunk 75.2% of her attempts from the charity stripe.  Caira was a rebounding machine for the Lynx, averaging 8.3 caroms and also led the team in total blocks on the season with 53. 

Lesley will also lean heavily on senior captain and Honorable Mention winner Lani Cabral-Pini (Wilmington, Mass.) for leadership at the point guard position.  Cabral-Pini has been a general at the point and played inspiring defense as well.  Lesley's career leader in steals once again had a solid defensive season with 61 steals at an average of 2.4 per game. 

Sophomore Rachael O'Mara (Levittown, N.Y.) has contributed in several different facets of the game all season long as she has been known to score points, get rebounds, force turnovers, and play with overall intensity on the court for the Lynx.  Lesley will need her input over the weekend advance deep into the NECC Championships.

Head Coach Tom Fay will need to look at players like Georgia Saltzman (Lynn, Mass.), Jodi Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) and Christina DiGiorgio (Lowell, Mass.) to help maintain defensive intensity off the bench while looking to attack offensively.  Cassidy Freed (Brattleboro, Vt.) has been a dependable rebounder averaging 5.1 rebounds per game in an average of 17.9 minutes on the court.  Senior Kelly Harrington (Toledo, Ohio) broke 100 points in her third straight season and will be called upon for an offensive spark off the bench as well. 

Lesley meets Elms on Friday evening at 8:00 pm in New London, Connecticut on the campus of Mitchell College for the NECC Semifinals.  If victorious, the Lynx will play the winner of the #4 Daniel Webster College and #1 Mitchell College game on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm. 

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