Worcester State Powers Past Mount Holyoke, 70-36

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Powered by double-digit efforts from four players, the Worcester State University basketball team defeated Mount Holyoke College, 70-36 in non-conference action on Wednesday evening. The Lancers improve to 2-1 overall, while the Lyons slip to 0-3.

First year center Britt Herring (West Brookfield, Mass.) notched a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lancers. She also had two assists, a block and a steal, going 7-of-10 from the field. Sophomore guard Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) posted 14 points with a game-best five assists, while senior guard Natasha Gonzalez (Milford, Mass.) added 12 points, including a 6-of-7 effort from the free throw line. First year forward Kaitlyn Berkel (Waterford, Conn.) added 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

For Mount Holyoke, the Lyons were paced by senior captain and guard Genelle Green (Windsor, Conn.), who notched her second straight double-double with a game-high 15 points and 10 rebounds. She also had three assists. First year guard Leah Hodges (New Haven, Conn.) notched seven points with a block and an assist.

It was a strong effort by the visitors to open the game as the Lancers jumped out to a 14 point advantage (16-2) on a layup by Hackett. The Lyons responded with shots from Green and Hodges to cut the lead to 10 (16-6), but a jumper from first year forward Samm Toli (Taunton, Mass.) and a shot from Berkel gave Worcester State a 22-8 lead after the opening quarter.

The Lancers continued to press in the second quarter as a layup from first year guard Kate Surprenant (Pelham, N.H.) made it a 22-point (33-11) advantage with 4:22 to play. A trey from Green at the 3:03 mark cut the MHC deficit to 33-16, but the visitors would head into halftime with a 41-16 advantage behind three buckets over the final 1:23 of the frame.

Worcester State held momentum straight into the third quarter as a pair of free throw makes from Gonzalez and a jumper by Hackett made it a 45-16 game less than two minutes in. The visitors continued to capitalize on the Lyons missed shots as a layup and subsequent shot from Gonzalez opened the score up by a 37-point margin with just 3:42 in the frame. Green once again hit the long ball with 53 seconds to go, but Worcester State headed into the final quarter with a 57-21 lead.

Mount Holyoke rebounded offensively in the fourth quarter as senior captain Kelly Stewart (La Cañada, Calif.) nailed a shot from three-point range to make it a 57-24 game at the 8:59 mark. The Lyons closed the gap to 32 points (64-32) on a free throw make by junior guard Xajaah Williams-Flores (The Bronx, N.Y.), but Mount Holyoke would be unable to stop the hot shooting of the Lancers as Gonzalez posted two points from the free throw line and Herring added a final bucket for the victory.

Both teams return to action this Saturday as Mount Holyoke travels to Norwich University for a 1pm match against the Cadets. Worcester State travels to Pennsylvania, battling McDaniel at 7:30pm at the York College Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament.

Release Courtesy of Mount Holyoke Sports Information