MEDFORD, Mass. -- Johns Hopkins University's Alex Vassila posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and notched her sixth blocked shot of the contest in the final seconds to deny the University of New England a go-ahead basket, as the Blue Jays came away with a 53-51 victory in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship played Friday evening at Cousens Gym on the campus of Tufts University.
The Nor'easters rallied from down 11 (45-34) at the 6:35 mark to draw within one (47-46) 2:30 later. Senior Kelley Paradis (Newport, Maine) had six points in the middle of the stretch, and first-year Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) finished off the 12-2 run with the final four.
Vassila answered right back with a lay-up plus one to extend the gap to four, but UNE came back with three free throws to make the difference one again (50-49). After another basket by Vassila, Big Blue senior Kari Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) sunk a pair of freebies for a 52-51 Johns Hopkins edge with 1:55 on the clock.
A combined two missed shots and three turnovers between the teams left UNE with possession inside the last 25 seconds, setting up the defensive play by Vassila. The Nor'easters quickly committed fouls to get the ball back, and did once Chantal Mattiola hit 1-of-2 free throws with 0.2 left, but could not get a shot up before the buzzer sounded.
Vassila connected on 7-of-9 shots from the floor in the match, and six of her 11 boards came on the offensive end. Mattiola added 10 for the Blue Jays (24-4) to go along with seven assists. Haley Bush corralled 15 rebounds to help Johns Hopkins to a 45-31 advantage on the glass, overcoming the 25 turnovers committed.
Paradis tallied a game-best 20 points for the Nor'easters (22-6), and snagged six rebounds as well as five steals. Coleman chipped in with 14 points and six caroms off the bench. Junior Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine) finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Blue Jays never trailed in the contest, and built their largest lead of the night at 21-9 midway through the first half. UNE registered the next eight behind a trey from Paradis and four point by Coleman, however Johns Hopkins managed to establish a seven-point cushion (27-20) at the break.
The margin hit 11 twice in the early parts of the second period, until six straight points for the Nor'easters -- four by Suggs -- closed the deficit to five (37-32). Eight of the next 10 points went in the direction of the Blue Jays, before Big Blue put together its comeback down the stretch.
Johns Hopkins moves on to face regional host Tufts in the second round on Saturday. The Jumbos defeated Misericordia University, 61-57.
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