Down By 20, Women's Basketball Surges Past Worcester State, 71-65
Box Score/Play-by-PlaySPRINGFIELD, Mass. – February 8, 2007 –Lauren O’Connor scored 19 points, including the go-ahead three-point play with just 38 seconds left, to lead her Springfield College women’s basketball team to a huge come-from-behind victory over Worcester State College in a non-conference game tonight at SC’s Blake Arena. The Pride trailed by as many as 20 points with 17:48 left in the second half.
With the win, Springfield evens its record at 11-11, while Worcester State falls to 12-10.
This game was highlighted by tremendous spurts. With 4:27 left in the first half, WSC led Springfield by just three points at 20-17. But the Lancers then outscored the Pride 15-5 the remainder of that half to lead 35-22 at the intermission. WSC then outscored Springfield, 10-3, in the first 2:12 of the second half to take what was seemingly an insurmountable lead at 45-25. In that span of 6:39 surrounding the half, the Lancers outscored Springfield, 25-8.
But the tide began to turn. In the next 2:54, SC ran off 12 straight points, six by sophomore forward Corey Finch (Hanover, Pa.). A three-pointer by WSC junior guard Lindsay DelleChiaie (Leominster, Mass.) momentarily stopped the Pride barrage to make the score, 48-37. But a lay-up by Finch and a three-pointer by junior guard Christine Cotter (Stoughton, Mass.) cut it to six, 48-42, and there was still 13:08 to go.
Later, a lay-up by O’Connor, a 6-1 sophomore center from Valhalla, N.Y., cut it to one at 52-51 with 9:49 to go. Worcester State remained stubborn, going up by five at 56-51 with 9:03 left on two free throws by senior forward Tracey Ducasse (Malden, Mass.).
But with 7:36 left, SC tied it 56-all on a three-pointer by junior guard Katie Castignetti (Braintree, Mass.). Then with 5:34 left, Springfield took its first lead of the game when junior guard Tara McCarthy (Bristol, R.I.) made a lay-up, making it 60-59. A lay-up by O’Connor with 4:51 left had SC up by three. Just 10 seconds later, however, DelleChiaie hit a three-pointer to tie it at 62-all for the Lancers.
With 2:56 left, freshman forward Bri Flanders (Southampton, Mass.) hit one of two free throws to give WSC at 65-64 lead. It was to be WSC’s last lead.
Both teams had several chances to score, but no one did until O’Connor converted a great pass by McCarthy into a lay-up and a three-point play with 38 seconds left, putting SC up for good at 67-65.
There was still much action to come. With 18 seconds left, DelleChiaie found herself on the free throw line with a 1-and-1 that could have tied it. But she missed the front end, and McCarthy was then fouled. The teams marched to the other end, where McCarthy calmly sank both ends of a 1-and-1, giving SC a 69-65 lead. After a missed three-pointer by DelleChiaie, O’Connor was fouled and made the final two free throws with seven seconds left to provide the final margin, 71-65.
Following O’Connor’s 19 points and game-high nine rebounds, McCarthy added 18 points and a season-high nine assists for the Pride. Finch scored 16 points and added six rebounds and four assists. O’Connor was 8-for-12 from the floor. McCarthy and Finch were both 7-for-14 from the floor.
For Worcester State, DelleChiaie scored a game-high 20 points. She was followed by senior guard Rachael Odugbela (Providence, R.I.) with 18 points, and Flanders with 11. Flanders topped WSC with six rebounds. Junior forward Maureen Lemay (Nashua, N.H.) finished with eight points and five rebounds.
Springfield was shooting just .391 from the field as a team at the half (9-for-23), but then shot .667 in the second half (20-for-30). For the game, SC shot .547 (29-for-53). Conversely, WSC shot .500 in the first half (12-for-24), but just .355 in the second half (11-for-31). Overall, the Lancers shot .418 for the contest (23-for-55).
Springfield had 24 assists in 29 made baskets. The Pride out-rebounded WSC, 32-26.
SC will return to NEWMAC conference action this Saturday (Feb. 10) by taking on Smith in Northampton, Mass. at 2 pm.
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Head Coach Naomi Graves
Entering her 19th season as head coach in 2009-10, Naomi Graves has directed her squads to an impressive 266-117 record (.695 winning percentage) since joining the Division III ranks in 1995. Graves has led the Pride to eleven post-season bids in the past 14 years, including five berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament in the past nine years.
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