NEWTON, MA- Norwich University pulled away from the Lasell College women's basketball team early in the second half, making way for a 56-44 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory on Thursday night at the Lasell Athletic Center.
After a close first half with three lead changes and five ties, the Cadets broke away to take a late advantage heading into a five point spread at halftime, 29-24. A tough second half commenced for the Lasers who hit on just 18.4%(7-38) of their shots ultimately allowing Norwich to take as much as a 20 point lead at the peak of play. The win improves Norwich's record to 14-5 this season, and 6-1 in the conference, while the Lasers drop to 1-18 and 0-7 in the GNAC.
Lasell held this week's GNAC Player of the Week, and league leading scorer, Christine Daniels (Concord, NH) to just 13 points, though she continues on an unblemished 19-game double-double streak by adding 10 rebounds. Karissa Doyon (Beecher Falls, VT) finished the game with a contest-high 18 points and Kristin Brown (Williamstown, VT) and Laurel McWilliams (Swanton, VT) notched eight points each, with McWilliams collecting 11 boards.
For Lasell, Ashley Slattery (Weymouth, MA) was the top scorer in the matchup with 13 points and JoAnna Bishop (So. Burlington, VT) followed with 10 points and nine rebounds. Kayla Vincelette (Westport, MA) ended the game with eight points and Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) recorded seven points and nine caroms.
Lasell took a 4-0 lead two minutes into the game on buckets by Bishop and Slattery. McWilliams counteracted the attack for the visitors with back-to-back layups to tie up the game, at 17:39. The Cadets pulled ahead for their first advantage a minute later after two Doyon baskets down low brought the visitors ahead 8-6.
The teams traded baskets through the 13 minute mark at which point the score remained knotted at 12-all after a Vincelette jumper on Lasell's end. A 6-0 Laser run gave the hosts an 18-12 lead with 8:55 on the clock but Daniels broke up the Lasers short run with a mid-range jumper at 8:31, keeping the Cadets within close proximity.
Kara Hinthorne (Rockland, MA) reinstated Lasell's six point lead 20-14 after a fast break layup, however a three and two freebies by Doyon brought the Cadets within one (20-19) with seven minutes to play in the half. Thirty seconds later, a three point field goal by Brown on the wing put the visitors on top, 22-20. Two points by Jocelyn Fasulo (Contoocooke, NY) capped a 9-0 run by the Cadets over a two and a half minute period.
The Lasers remained in arrears 24-22 through the following three minutes before a trey by Brown extended Norwich's lead. A fast break by Slattery for Lasell balanced out a final lay-in by Fasulo to bring about the 29-24 halftime score in Norwich's favor.
Doyon led for the Cadets at the break with 11 points while Slattery had recorded eight points for Lasell. The Lasers shot 46.2% (12-26) in the half and out-rebounded the visitors 19-16. The Cadets only managed to hit on 38.7% (12-31) but went 3-8 (37.5%) from downtown while Lasell did not hit from beyond the arc in the period.
The Cadets held Lasell scoreless over the first three and a half minutes of the second period while adding to their lead by seven points to produce a double-digit lead, 36-24. A three by Farr at the top of the arc cut Lasell's deficit to nine (38-29) at the 15 minute mark but a hook shot by Hannah Bushey (Essex Junction, VT) put Norwich back on top by 11, with 14:17 on the clock.
Things opened up for Norwich by the ten minute mark, taking a 15 point lead, as the Lasers continued to attack the rim but were unable to produce on their shot. Slattery connected from downtown with 6:30 to go bringing about an end to Lasell's five minute stalemate in scoring but Norwich responded with six more straight points to culminate in a 20-point lead. Lasell produced a 12-2 run over four minutes to finish the game.
On Saturday, February 5th, the Lasers will challenge Suffolk University in their next contest slated for a 4:00 p.m. start at home.