Women's Basketball Tame Lyons, 58-40

Worcester, MA ---  Senior Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) registered her fifth double-double of the season netting 20 points to go along with 15 boards to help lead Worcester State past Mount Holyoke College, 58-40, in non-conference women's basketball action this evening at the Lancer Gymnasium.

Worcester State (4-5) was also paced offensively by junior Meaghan Burns (W. Brookfield, MA) who recorded 14 points and six rebounds.

Senior Kara Rogers (Lowell, MA) and sophomore Kelli McPherson (Mansfield, MA) also added double-digit scoring performances with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Mount Holyoke (1-7) was propelled by junior Jennine Vizcaino (New York, NY) who dropped in eight points to go along with six caroms and freshman Genelle Green (Windsor, CT) who contributed six points and seven boards in the defeat.

The Lancers used a 23-3 run spread out over both halves while holding the Lyons without a bucket for 9:49 to jump out to a 43-26 lead as they never looked back.

After a lay-up by Burns with 8:29 left to play in the first period gave Worcester State the 18-13 advantage, Mount Holyoke mounted a comeback.

The Blue and White embarked on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to find themselves with a three-point advantage with 5:28 to play in the opening stanza (23-20).

The run was book-ended with a pair of lay-ups by Vizcaino and senior Angelica Pascual (Lawrence, MA).

O'Keefe then ignited the Blue and Gold with a lay-up and a long three-pointer to give the Lancers the slim 25-23 edge at the intermission.

Worcester State kept the momentum going running out on all cylinders with an 18-3 run over the first 7:57 of the second to gain their largest lead of the contest. WSU then maintained double-digits the rest of the way cruising to the 58-40 final.

The Lancers shot a blistering 48 percent from the field (22-for-46) as they limited the visitors to just 30 percent for the Lyons (17-for-57) – including 19 percent in the second stanza alone (6-for-32).

The Blue and Gold also held leads in rebounding (39-30), points off of turnovers (13-7), and second chance points (9-6).

WSU will next travel to Los Angeles, California to take part in the Tiger/Panther Classic hosted by Occidental and face off against Chapman on Saturday at 6 PM EST. The Lyons will return home and match up with Simmons on Thursday at 6 PM.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant