THE BASICS 
Lesley University 63, Mt. Holyoke College 58

Records: 
Lesley University Lynx (3-1, 0-0 NAC)
Mt. Holyoke College Lyons (0-3, 0-0 NEWMAC) 

Location: Lexington, Mass. – Minuteman Gymnasium

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024

THE LEAD –  The Lesley University women's basketball team kicked off a three-game homestand with its home opener Saturday and came away with a 63-58 win over Mt. Holyoke College. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lyons started the first with solid shooting and defense as the visitors opened with an eight point lead after a Hannah Goen free throw made it 12-4 with 3:18 left in the opening quarter.  However, the Lynx hung around and ended the quarter with a 6-2 run that cut the Lyons lead to four (14-10) after Leila Chisholm (Santa Barbara, Calif.) hit a layup with 16 seconds left in the frame. 
• As the second got underway, Mt. Holyoke grabbed its largest lead (19-10) thanks to a Goen three-pointer, but Lesley clawed right back and evened things at 19 courtesy of a 9-0 run. During Lesley's offensive burst, Chisholm led the push with four points.
• Both sides went back and forth during the second, but the Lynx grabbed their first lead of the day after Jaira Moore (Chula Vista, Calif.) knocked down a three that made it 24-23 with 2:30 left until halftime. Each squad continued to trade baskets and play hard defense the rest of the way, and Lesley would go into the half with a 27-26 advantage.
• In the third, the theme was defense as neither side could pull away. Mt. Holyoke held the largest lead of the quarter when the visitors went up 33-29 after a Sofia Francisco layup. Despite being down, Lesley once again retook the lead with a 6-1 spurt when Madalynn Biagi (Lincoln, Calif.) knocked down two free throws that made it 35-34 with 4:41 left in the third. After more strong defense the rest of the way, it was the Lyons that were up at the end of the quarter, 42-41.
• During the opening moments of the fourth, the Lyons generated breathing room when they scored the first six points to go up 47-41 at 8:32. However, thanks to stellar defense and timely buckets, the Lynx stormed back and retook the lead, 50-49 after Bella Terry (El Cajon, Calif.) converted an and-one opportunity. 
• Later in the fourth, tied at 54, Lesley was able to pull away for its largest lead of the contest after Chisholm made a put-back for a 62-55 lead. Lesley continued to play lockdown defense the rest of the way and held on for the 63-58 victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS  

• Terry led the scoring for the Lynx with 18 points on the day. Along with Terry, three other Lynx's recorded double-digit points (Biagi-11, Chisholm-11, and Moore-10). 
• Goen led all scorers Saturday with 20 points and also dished out four assists. 
• Chisholm and Price both recorded a career-high six steals on Saturday. 

UP NEXT

• Lesley continues its three-game homestand when the squad takes on New England College on Wednesday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m.