The Blazers won for the fifth time in their last six games to improve to 6-4 overall and remained atop the NAC West Division standings at 5-0 – the team’s best start in conference since 2001-02. Mount Ida, which played its first game in 29 days, lost its third straight game to fall to 2-8 overall, 2-2 NAC.
Although junior guard Jessy Gilbert (Strong, ME) knocked down her only 3-pointer of the game to pull the Mustangs to within 64-60 with 1:22 remaining, Josefiak, senior forward Danielle Dugre (Holyoke, MA) and Fernandes each hit a pair of free throws over the next 56 seconds to seal the victory.
Junior guard Kristin Santos (Tiverton, RI) connected for a game-high 26 points, including 8 of 17 from 3-point range for the Mustangs. Santos connected for 15 first half points – all on 3-pointers to help Mount Ida to a 27-26 lead at intermission.
Junior forward Danielle Ring (Leicester, MA) netted 17 points and hauled in a game-high 20 rebounds, while junior center Ariel Smith (Framingham, MA) added 10 points to also reach double figures for Mount Ida in the loss.
Elms College returns to NAC play at Lasell College on Saturday, January 14. Game time is 4:00 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score Mount Ida College vs Elms College 01/11/06 8:00 p.m. at Chicopee, MA At Chicopee, MA ELMS COLLEGE 73, MOUNT IDA COLLEGE 63 MOUNT IDA COLLEGE (2-8, 2-2 NAC) Kristin Santos 9-24 0-0 26; Danielle Ring 7-19 3-6 17; Ariel Smith 5-16 0-2 10; Elise McLear 2-5 1-2 5; Jessy Gilbert 1-3 0-2 3; Lauren Hickey 0-7 2-2 2; Talia Fraine 0-3 0-1 0; Tiffany Lockwood 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-78 6-15 63. ELMS COLLEGE (6-4, 5-0 NAC) Raemarie Josefiak 4-7 8-9 18; Michelle Fernandes 4-11 8-11 18; Martha Arment 5-10 1-1 11; Danielle Dugre 2-9 4-4 8; Paige Schneider 3-7 1-2 7; Shauna Sullivan 2-14 2-2 6; Karen Prattico 1-5 2-2 4; Taina Nazario 0-1 1-2 1; Casey Lipetri 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-65 27-33 73. Mount Ida College............. 27 36 - 63 Elms College.................. 26 47 - 73 3-point goals-Mount Ida College 9-25 (Kristin Santos 8-17; Jessy Gilbert 1-3; Elise McLear 0-1; Lauren Hickey 0-3; Danielle Ring 0-1), Elms College 4-10 (Raemarie Josefiak 2-3; Michelle Fernandes 2-4; Shauna Sullivan 0-2; Casey Lipetri 0-1). Fouled out--Mount Ida College-Danielle Ring; Elise McLear, Elms College-None. Rebounds-Mount Ida College 55 (Danielle Ring 20), Elms College 52 (Martha Arment 9). Assists-Mount Ida College 10 (Jessy Gilbert 5), Elms College 15 (Paige Schneider 5). Total fouls-Mount Ida College 26, Elms College 17. A-101 Elms College improves to 5-0 in the NAC for the first time since 2001-02. Blazers remain atop the NAC West Division