Lancers Get First Victory of Season; Defeat Mt. Holyoke 53-40

Worcester, MA  --- Junior forward Reilly O'Keefe (Warren, MA) recorded game highs of 13 points and 11 rebounds, as the Worcester State College women's basketball team downed non-conference foe Mount Holyoke College 53-40 this evening at Lancer Gymnasium. It was the Lancers first win of the 2008-09 season and third straight over the Lyons.

Three players reached double digits in the scoring column for Worcester State, which shot 31.0% (15-58) from the field and outrebounded the guests 43-38. Sophomore guard Kathleen Foley (Hudson, NH) drained three shots from beyond the arc en route to 11 points. The Lancers also received a boost from first year guard Kaleigh Charette (Fairhaven, MA), who registered ten points and five rebounds. Senior guard Erin McCullough (Harvard, MA) chipped in with six points, seven boards and a game best three assists.

Mount Holyoke was limited to just 26.9% (7-26) shooting from the floor and committed 25 turnovers. The Lyons were paced by first year guard Christine Chancy (Bay Harbor Island, FL), who amassed team highs of 14 points and ten rebounds. It was her first collegiate double-double. She was 4-of-6 from the floor and converted her lone three point attempt. Mount Holyoke also received solid production from first year forward Emma Washauer (Mill Valley, CA) and senior guard Katie Austen, who finished with eight points apiece. Washauer and classmate Tricia Chase (Feeding Hills, MA) hauled in six rebounds each.

Both teams struggled from the floor in a first half that featured four ties and seven lead changes. A conventional three point play by Washauer put Mount Holyoke in front 12-7 at the 10:39 mark. It proved to be the Lyons largest cushion of the evening. They led 17-16 at the 2:49 mark, but Worcester State scored the final eight points of the half and took a 24-17 edge into the locker room. Foley knocked down a pair of three pointers to fuel the run.

The Lancers (1-1) started the second half with six more unanswered points to push their lead to 30-17. Following Foley's third trifecta at the 12:33 mark, they led 37-21. Mount Holyoke used an 8-1 run over the next two minutes to slice the deficit to 38-29, but Worcester State put things out of reach with an 11-2 surge of its own. The Lancers 49-31 advantage with 3:38 remaining in regulation was their largest of the night.

Release Courtesy Mount Holyoke Sports Information