LASERS FIGHT OFF SCOTS IN A ONE POINT VICTORY

Newton, Mass.- The Lasell College women's basketball team escaped with a one point win over Gordon College on Thursday evening, and picked up their third win of the season.  Gordon had the final two shots opportunities down the stretch but they were unsuccessful at converting, and the Lasers held on for a 53-52 victory.

The lead changed hands six times in the first half of play.  The teams teetered back and forth over the first 8 minutes, neither team achieving more than a two point lead.  At 12:35, Sara Schwanke (Duxbury, Mass.) sank an outside jumper to tie the game for the fourth time, then hit two foul shots to pull ahead.  Lasell's Kara Hinthorne (Rockland, Mass.) converted on a wing shot to tie the game again, and the Lasers picked up a six point advantage in the game at the six minute mark after a fast break by Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) and a three point play by Shauna Kelly (Quincy, Mass.). 

The Fighting Scots brought the game back within one point off a bucket in the paint by forward Marybeth Conlon (Wakefield, Mass.), but the Lasers score the final 5 points of the half to come out on top with a 27-21 advantage.

Farr scored immediately to open the second half and Tricia Culver (N. Hampton, Mass.) secured a successive basket to give the Lasers the largest lead of the game at ten. Gordon hit on their next two possessions but the Lasers bounced back to an 8 point lead after Kelsey Converse (Laconia, NH) penetrated through Gordon's defense and banked a shot high off the glass.

The Fighting Scots brought the game within two, at 35-37, subsequent to a shot clock violation on Lasell and Schwanke dropping in two more points.  After a baseline jumper by senior captain Katie Schumitz (Milford, Conn.) hit nothing but net, the Lasers held a seven point edge, with 7:51 left.  Gordon hit the next four points to bring the game within three, at which points both teams remained scoreless for 3 minutes.

Schumitz broke the standstill nailing a three off the dribble from the top of the arc, and giving the Lasers a 6 point cushion.  Rebecca Carroll (Pleasant Valley, NY) did not allow the Lasers to get too comfortable as she connected on a three point play underneath. 

With 1:09 remaining, and Gordon in control of the ball, Schwanke found an open lane to the hoop and layed in an easy two points, leaving the Lasers up by only one. 

But that one point was all Lasell needed to claim the win.  After a Lasell turnover, the Fighting Scots reclaimed possession and attempted a three pointer to pull ahead.  JoAnna Bishop (S. Burlington, VT) came up with a huge defensive rebound and the Scots were forced to foul.  Kelly missed the front of a one-and-one and Gordon recovered the loose ball. 

With nine seconds on the clock, Schwanke put up an unsuccessful baseline jumper and the Lasers picked up a team rebound as time ticked off the clock. 

Schwanke was the high-scorer of the matchup with 16 total points, close behind was Kelly with 15 points for Lasell.  Schwanke and Kelly each picked up seven boards in the contest.  Gordon's Erin Thames (River Vale, NJ) dominated the glass with 14 points and 15 rebounds to produce the games only double-double. 

The Lasers are now 3-6 this season, and play their final game of the semester on the road at Westfield State, on Saturday, December 13th, at 1:00 p.m.  The Scots head into the winter break with a 1-8 record and will resume play on January 2nd in the Goombay Shootout, in the Bahamas.