North Adams, MA --- Senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) posted her 13th double-double of the season with 23 points and a career-best 23 rebounds as she helped lead Worcester State to a 54-51 triumph over MCLA in MASCAC women's basketball action this evening.
With the win the Lancers even out their record to 11-11 and they move into second place in the MASCAC standings at 7-2 with a Westfield State setback this evening by Bridgewater State. The Trailblazers fall to 8-13 and 0-8 in league play.
O'Keefe netted 17 of her squads 30 points in the second stanza and her final rebound tally was just two shy of tying the school record.
Freshman Natasha Gonzalez (Milford, MA) pitched in with six points and four assists while junior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) added seven for the Blue and Gold.
MCLA was paced by junior Danielle Scolpino (Bethel, CT) who registered team-bests of 18 points with seven boards as senior Lucy Tremblay (E. Greenbush, NY) finished with 16 points, four rebounds and a trio of swipes.
With the score 18-17 midway through the first period, the Trailblazers utilized a 13-2 run to open up a 31-19 advantage with 2:19 left. Scolopino jacked a pair of three pointers and added nine points in the run for the hosts.
But junior Michel'le St. Pierre (Seekonk, MA) proved to be a spark for the Lancers at the end of the frame as she scored a lay-up and a free throw to go along with two points in the paint from O'Keefe to help the visitors trail by just seven at the break (31-24).
With MCLA maintaining the 35-26 edge with 17:25 remaining, the Blue and Gold went on an 11-2 spurt to equalize the score 37-37 five minutes later. O'Keefe scored her squads last eight points in the scoring burst.
The game was then nip and tuck the rest of the way as crowd was treated to a trio of ties and five lead changes until the Lancers took over the game for good when sophomore Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) snapped a 47-47 tie when she converted a lay-up with 1:47 left.
O'Keefe then went 3-for-4 at the line to help give Worcester State the 47-52 edge with 47 seconds remaining, but then MCLA got back into it when Tremblay recorded a three-point play with 22 ticks on the clock.
The Lancers converted two more buckets at the charity stripe as they held on at the end to seal up the win.
Worcester State finished shooting 31 percent for the contest (20-for-64) while the Trailblazers also hit at a 32 percent clip for the game (19-for-60), but the hosts only made two of their 18 attempts from downtown.
Due in large part of O'Keefe, the Lancers dominated the backboards (54-38) and used a commanding 19-8 edge on the offensive glass to score a 20-7 margin in second-chance points.
Both squads will play again on Tuesday evening. Worcester State hosts Fitchburg State in the later game at 7:30 while MCLA entertains Westfield State at 5:30 PM.