Frankian, El-Qasem Pace Women's Basketball In 50-41 Victory Over MCLA

Second Half Video Highlights From TVCharter3

Dudley, MA --- Senior Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) and classmate Julie Frankian (Millbury, MA) both reached double-figure scoring for the Worcester State in a balanced effort to help pace Worcester State to a 50-41 triumph over MCLA in MASCAC women's basketball action at the Nichols Athletics Center.

With the victory, the Lancers improved to 13-7 and 4-3 in league play to take sole possession of third place in the MASCAC while the Trailblazers fell to 7-13 and 1-7 in the conference.

El-Qasem notched her third double-double of the campaign with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Frankian was solid with 10 points, nine boards and three assists.

Freshman Nani Perez (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) doled out 10 assists with six steals and senior Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) chipped in with nine.

Sophomore Kayla Hotaling (Ravena, NY) and classmate Courtney McLaughlin (Pittsfield, MA) both recorded 11 points apiece while Hotaling grabbed a team-high 10 boards for the visitors.

MCLA jumped out to the early 10-3 lead before the Lancers chipped away at the deficit and opened up an 18-10 advantage with 3:47 remaining in the first half. El-Qasem and junior Bianca Langford (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) combined for 10 points in the 15-0 run for the hosts.

Jones and junior Natasha Gonzalez (Milford, MA) converted jumpers at the end of the stanza to help Worcester State claim the 28-17 edge at the intermission.

The Blue and Gold maintained double-digits for most of the second period until the Trailblazers took advantage of turnovers and missed shots to get back into the contest.

As WSU held the commanding 16 point margin at the midway point, MCLA embarked on a 7-0 skein to trail 41-32 with 4:58 on the clock.

Jones connected on a trey to halt the momentum, but three miscues in the back court gave the visitors some life with nine points – including a trifecta by McLaughlin at the top of the arc and a field goal by sophomore Brayleigh Hanlon (Wayantskill, NY) to narrow the gap to 44-41 as 2:05 remained in regulation.

The Lancers chewed up the clock over the next minute, earned a new shot clock following an offensive board and forced their opponents to foul after a missed three pointer from MCLA sophomore Courtney Durivage (N. Adams, MA).

WSU put the game out of reach by sinking all six of their tries at the free throw line for the final score and the defense did not allow the Trailblazers to convert another field goal in the waning moments of the contest.

After shooting a blistering 48 percent in the first period (13-for-27), the Lancers went cold with a 26 percent line in the final frame (7-for-27). WSU also canned just two of their 13 bids from downtown.

The Lancers, however, did end the game with advantages in rebounding (46-30), baskets in the paint (24-20) and fast break points (17-4).

MCLA shot poorly in both stanza finishing with a 28 percent line for the game (16-for-58). The Trailblazers did use 11 swipes and caused 20 turnovers en-route to holding a 15-9 edge in points off of miscues.

Both teams continue their respective MASCAC slates on Saturday at 1 o'clock. Worcester State takes on Salem State in a road affair while MCLA hosts Fitchburg State.