Burns Helps Women's Basketball Dispatch Johnson & Wales In 49-46 Victory

Providence, RI --- Senior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) registered a game-best 19 points and connected for the game-winning lay-up with 15 seconds remaining as Worcester State defeated Johnson and Wales 49-46 this evening at the Wildcat Center.

With the win, the Lancers have now won three straight to run their record to 6-8 overall. Johnson and Wales slips to 3-10 overall in the setback.

Burns, who also grabbed a contest high 14 rebounds, put up her second double-double of the campaign for Worcester State.

Junior Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) and sophomore Cheyenne Jennings (Worcester, MA/Wachusett) also combined for 17 points as third-year Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) was strong defensively for the visitors with seven boards and a game-high four swipes.

Senior Jenna Juron (Burnt Hills, NY) paced the Wildcats with a team-high 17 points on a 6-of-12 effort from the floor.

Junior D'Ana Rolle (Gardner, MA) chipped in with nine points and a trio of steals while classmate Valerie Arce (Providence, RI) and senior Samantha Hendrick (Castleton-On-Hudson, NY) both added six points and seven rebounds each.

Johnson and Wales erased an eight point deficit at the intermission with a 14-5 run that extended to the midway point of the final stanza. Juron swished in six for the hosts in the surge and she hit the go-ahead jumper for the 32-31 score with 9:36 left on the clock.

The next six minutes, the contest proved to be a back and forth affair as the lead changed hands five times and the score was equalized on three occasions. Rolle drilled a three-pointer for the largest margin that either squad went by in the stretch (41-37) at the 5:05 mark.

Frankian helped give WSU the 43-42 margin with 2:48 remaining, however, JWU freshman Bobbie Whitehead (Brooklyn, NY) responded by sinking the back end of a bonus try to tie up the score 18 ticks later.

Burns answered with two points at the charity stripe to help her team lead 45-43, but Juron helped the hosts kept pace with another successful conversion at the line for the one-point game with 1:59 left on the clock.

In the final minute of regulation, Hendrick put up two points in the key for the 46-45 advantage with 26 ticks remaining, however, Burns came up in the clutch for the Lancers with a driving lay-up for the match clinching score.

On the ensuing Johnson and Wales possession, Jones intercepted a pass at her own free throw line to give the ball right back to Worcester State. Jennings then canned two buckets at the line for the final score.

Worcester State originally held the 14-6 advantage with 8:35 left in the opening half as Burns netted six of her 12 points in the run.

Johnson and Wales answered with four quick points with a field goal by Juron and two at the line by Roll to trail by 14-10 and 2½ minutes later, it was only a five point deficit at the 4:02 mark (19-14).

The Lancers though settled for the 26-18 score at the intermission.

Johnson and Wales held leads in points in the paint (20-8) and used 13 steals to parlay 23 miscues into a 22-16 lead in points off turnovers.

Worcester State out-rebounded their opponents (44-36) while also holding leads in offensive boards (15-9) and second-chance baskets (9-8).

The Lancers opened the contest with a 41 percent effort from the field (11-for-27), but went cold in the second stanza as they only rank in three of their 24 bids. WSU also only hit one of their 14 attempts from downtown and stayed even with the hosts in the final period with 17 made baskets at the charity stripe. 

JWU shot 32 percent for the game (17-for-54).

Both teams host conference opponents on Saturday at 1 PM. Worcester State entertains Bridgewater State while the Wildcats take on Norwich.

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