Williams powers past Lasell in dominating 103-49 victory
Dominique de la Torre '08
by Rachel Rosten
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA.- Complete dominance marked
tonight's performance for the Williams women's basketball team
(3-2). Twelve of thirteen players scored en route to a 103-49
rout over visiting Lasell College (1-4) in the second game of the
Williams Holiday Classic in Chandler Gymnasium. Endicott
defeated University of Maine- Farmington, 76-53, in the first game
and will face off against the Ephs in the championship game
tomorrow afternoon.
The starting five for Williams proved unstoppable on the offensive
end in the first half. Junior captain Mika Peterman (13
points) started the game 3 for 3, while senior Dominique de la
Torre (8 points, 4 rebounds) had key rebounds and points on the
block to give the Ephs early momentum. First year players
Chessie Jackson (17 points, 6 rebounds) and Taylor Shea (21 points,
4 rebounds) combined for thirty of the Ephs fifty first half
points. As always, senior Niki Savageau (5 points, 5
rebounds, 10 assists) paced the Ephs at point.
Williams transition game was impressive as the Ephs defense took
advantage of slipshod ball movement to create a fast paced attack
that certainly catered to their advantage tonight. Lasell
simply could not find an answer to containing the Ephs' offense and
the home team lead by a score of 50-29 at the half. Despite
the twenty one point lead following first period play, Ephs head
coach Pat Manning still was not content with her team's defensive
effort.
"I was really happy with overall play of the game but I felt as
though our defense in the first half was inconsistent, "said
Manning. "I was really proud of those who came off the bench
in the second half. Our goal for the second half was to
really contain them [Lasell], and the last group of five who ended
the game were certainly the best defensively."
Contain them they did as Williams kept Lasell to just twenty
points and a 20 percent field goal shooting percentage in the
second half, and climbed into triple digits for the first time this
season. It truly was a team effort tonight as well. All
thirteen players contributed solid minutes on the court, and four
players reached double digits. Williams shot 56.2 percent
from the floor and 56.3 percent from downtown, and out rebounded
Lasell by a 47-27 margin.
Sophomore Elizabeth Hansen was particularly impressive off the
bench and took over as floor general late in the second half.
In eleven second period minutes she scored 15 points while going
5-of-6 from the field with three shots from behind the arc.
"E [Hansen] ran the point at the end well, and she made great
decisions for us at the end of the game," said Manning.
Lauren Picozzi scored a team high 9 points for Lasell, while Carla
Zinno and Christina DeLuca chipped in 8 and 6 points respectively
for the Lasers.
Williams will play in the championship game of the Williams
Holiday Classic against Endicott tomorrow at 3 p.m.
University of Maine- Farmington and Lasell will compete in the
consolation game at 1 p.m.
Endicott defeats UM-Farmington, 76-53
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA- Endicott College (3-1) came out on top in the
first game of the Williams Holiday Classic, defeating the
University of Maine-Farmington (2-2) by a score of 76-53.
Endicott will face off against the host school, Williams College,
in tomorrow’s championship game at 3:00 p.m. in Chandler
Gymnasium.
Offensive production was certainly not the tale of the first
period, as eight minutes in the score remained tied at ten
apiece. Until the waning minutes of the first half the teams
were engaged in a back and forth contest and they continued to
trade baskets until Endicott pulled ahead by six to head into the
locker room with a 29-23 lead. In the second half,
UM-Farmington looked tired on the defensive end, and Endicott
capitalized on the lapse and lead by as many as twenty-three points
with forty-three seconds left in regulation.
Ceciley Chisholm led the attack for Endicott, scoring 16 points
and grabbing eight boards. Teammate Nicole Duchesne added 14
points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Amanda Byrne led
UM-Farmington with 14 points, while Samantha Wiley chipped in 12
points and 8 boards.
