Lancers Stand Strong in Victory over Anna Maria

Worcester, MA- After another nail biting final seconds ending for the Worcester State Women's Basketball team ( 5-11, 2-3) the team returned home and focused on the win as they hosted Anna Maria for a second meeting of the season, and the first conference meeting between the teams. In the previous meeting, the Lancers claimed the 72-50 victory in the consolation match of this year's Worcester City Tournament.

Final

Worcester State: 78

Anna Maria: 67

How it Happened:

The matchup between Worcester State and Anna Maria was a nail biter as the Lancers and the AMCATs were neck and neck for the majority of the game. Leading scorers for the day were junior Lena Waldron (Quincy, MA) and senior Hannah Lomonaco (Northbridge, MA) each scoring 20 points, and junior Mia Haynes (Worcester, MA) scoring 15 for the Lancers. Tiffany Salazar led the Amcats with 17 points, with Hannah Baxter right behind her with 16 points. Both teams shot about 40% field goal percentage with the third quarter being where the Lancers showed the most accuracy 

The opening quarter of action would find Waldron opening the scoring, beginning a back and forth battle between the two squads. Anna Maria would briefly grab an early lead, before Waldron again locked down possession for Worcester. A run by the AMCATs midway through the opening 10 would push them to a second lead, but junior Aydan Gulliver (Cranston, RI) would sink the clinching basket for a Lancer lead. Anna Maria would manage to come back for the 22-20 first quarter lead.

Worcester would let this early momentum slow them down as they quickly worked to reclaim control which was accomplished by junior Alana Smith (Chicopee, MA) and Haynes. That lead would hold until halftime with Worcester having the 35-32 lead. Anna Maria would briefly reclaim the lead in the lead to start the new half creating a brief trading of leads before Worcester began to pull away.

The final quarter was a steady defensive battle that Worcester withstood for the 78-67 victory.

What's Next:

Worcester State (6-11,3-3) will be back on the road Wednesday with a trip to Bridgewater State at 5:30pm.