Lancer defense too much for MCLA women's basketball
Brayleigh Hanlon scored 14 points in MCLA's loss to Worcester on Saturday
North Adams, MA- The visiting Worcester State Women's basketball team rode a solid first half as they handled the MCLA Trailblazers 60-37 in MASCAC action this afternoon. The game marked the conference opener for WSU as they are now 10-3 overall, 1-0 in the conference. MCLA below .500 at 6-7, and 0-2 in the MASCAC.
Julie Frankian led the Lancers with 16 points on 5-11 shooting. Bianca Langford ended with a double double of 12 points and game best 16 rebounds. Nani Perez chipped in with 10 points.
It didn't take long for Worcester to assert themselves in the opening half. MCLA never led and with the score at 10-6 following a Kayla Hotaling layup, the Lancers embarked on a 17-1 spurt to seize command moving out to a 27-7 lead, their largest of the half. Kelli McPherson scored five points in the spurt as did Julie Frankian.
MCLA would get within 15 points at 27-12, but the Lancers would go on to double up the Trailblazers at halftime leading 36-18. Shannon El-Qasem paced the Lancers with 9 first half points. WSU held MCLA to just 25% shooting and forced them into 14 turnovers.
In the closing half, MCLA applied some full court pressure and at one point trimmed the margin to just eleven points at 44-33. Brayleigh Hanlon, who had a team best 14 points, scored 7 points in the spurt which was the closest MCLA would get. The Lancers responded with a 10-0 to take control, pushing the lead to 54-33 with just 6:16 remaining. Frankian had six points in the run.
Langford did most of the damage in the closing half overcoming first half foul trouble. She tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds over the final twenty minutes. Her efforts led to the Lancers holding a commanding 41-29 rebounding margin. WSU shot 36% from the floor.
MCLA's Hanlon was the only Trailblazer to reach double figures ending 6-15 from the floor. Svetlana Morrell added 8 rebounds off the bench. The Trailblazers were held to just 29% shooting in the game.
The Trailblazers will look for their first conference win on Tuesday when they travel to Fitchburg State.