BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Lesley University women's basketball team dropped the season series to Newbury College, falling 74-49 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action, Tuesday evening. Sophomore forward Abby Henderson (Rochester, N.H.) netted a team-high 17 points, shooting seven-of-11 from the field in 31 minutes.
Freshman Dakota Jones (Torrance, Calif.) finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds for her 12th double-double this season. Freshman Linda Wallentine (Monroe Township, N.J.) finished with nine points and eight assists, while senior Emily Meade (Derry, N.H.) chipped in eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Newbury junior Destiny Spears (Arnold, Md.) finished one assist shy of recording her first career triple-double, scoring 24 points, grabbing 13 rebounds while adding nine assists and five steals. Sophomore forward Savannah Olsen (Battle Creek, Mich.) scored a game-high 27 points, while pulling down 14 rebounds in 34 minutes. Sophomore Taylor Kelley (North Billerica, Mass.) matched a season-high with 11 points.
After a close first quarter that saw the Nighthawks lead 12-8, an 8-3 run to open the quarter and a 5-0 run to finish the quarter would open up a 15 point lead for the Nighthawks, 34-19. Olsen had 14 points and 10 rebounds at the break.
Coming out of the locker room, the Nighthawks seized control, outscoring the Lynx 23-7 in the third quarter, including a 12-4 run to open the third. Olsen had nine points in the quarter for the Nighthawks. Henderson and Jones combined for the Lynx's seven points.
Lesley came out strong to start the final quarter, embarking on a 13-4 run to open the quarter, but the deficit was too much to overcome, giving the Nighthawks the 75-49 final.
The Nighthawks shot a season-best 44.8 percent from the field, with a season-high 30 made field goals. In total, Spears scored or assisted on 45 of the Nighthawks 75 points (60 percent). Only three baskets by Newbury were not credited with an assist, leading to a season-high 27 team assists on 30 field goals.
Lesley drops to 7-12 on the season and 5-7 in conference play while Newbury improves to 6-13 and 6-7 in the NECC. The Lynx return to the hard-court Thursday evening, February 2nd when they travel to Wheelock College for an 8:30 p.m. tilt with the Wildcats. The Nighthawks break from conference play traveling to Connecticut College Thursday evening for a 7:00 p.m. game with the Camels.
- Recap provided by David Rixham, Newbury College Sports Information Coordinator