Norwich Uses Late Free Throws to Trip Up Lasers in Women's Hoops

Northfield, Vt. (01/17/2013) - The Lasell College women's basketball suffered a tough Great Northeast Athletic Conference road match-up against Norwich University, falling 58-56. Cadets sophomore Aliah Curry (Windsor, Mass.) drew a foul with 7.3 seconds to play in a tie game, and sank both free throws to give the hosts the 58-56 victory. Norwich pushed their record to 8-9 on the year and 2-2 in conference play while Lasell slipped to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in the league.

Lasell sophomore Danielle Autencio (Montville, Conn.) posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Alexis Chappell (Springfield, Mass.) tallied 11 points and six boards for the Lasers, who also got 10 points apiece from Kim Archibald (Lewiston, Me.) and Justine Ryan (Norwood, Mass.).

Curry finished with a game-high 29 points to lead Norwich, who also got 10 points from forward Kristine Brammer (Littleton, N.H.)

Trailing 47-35 with just over ten minutes to play in the game, Lasell got a big lift from Ryan who was fouled on a driving lay-up and made the bonus free three throw to cut the deficit to 47-38. Ryan the found a gap and got to the rim again on the Lasers next possession to pull the visitors within seven. The Cadets were called for an offensive foul on their next possession, and Ryan subsequently drilled a three pointer to bring Lasell within four points at 47-43.

Norwich got a pair of free throws from Kristin Brown (Williamstown, Vt.) to get the lead back to six, but Ryan answered with the jumper to give her 10 straight points and cut the lead to 49-45. Ginelle Cola (Lowell, Mass.) brought Lasell within one at 49-48 when she scored a bucket in the paint and made one of two free throws on the next trip.

Curry hit her seventh and final three of the game to put Norwich back ahead by four at 52-48, but the Lasers continued to battle back. Four free throws by Kayla Vincellette (Westport, Mass.) sandwiched a layup by Norwich's Brown made the score 54-52 with 3:57 to play.

Autencio tied the game for Lasell on a cutting lay-in with 3:34 on the clock, before both teams went cold shooting the ball. Norwich broke the deadlock courtesy of a Jessalyn Sweeney (Stanfordville, N.Y.) basket with 39 seconds to play. Chappell responded with a basket 10 seconds later, tying the game at 56-56 with 29 seconds left.

Following a pair of Norwich timeouts Curry drove the right side against Lasell's Ryan, who was whistled for a foul with 7.3 seconds on the clock. Curry knocked down the pair and Lasell pushed the ball upcourt and called a timeout with 4 seconds to play. The Lasers were unable to get a shot on their final possession as they were whistled for an illegal screen as Chappell was driving to the basket.

Norwich will tale to the road on Saturday January 19th when they visit Rivier University while Lasell will return home and play host to cross-town foe Mount Ida College at 2:00 p.m. on the 19th.