Trailblazers drop tight contest to Lancers 54-51
North Adams, MA- Worcester State senior Meaghan O'Keefe scored 23 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in leading the visiting Lancers to a hard fought 54-51 win over the MCLA Trailblazers. With the win, the Lancers even their record at 11-11 overall, but a solid 7-2 in the MASCAC. MCLA drops to 8-13 and 0-8 in the conference.
O'Keefe had a monster second half scoring 17 points after intermission. MCLA held a 31-24 lead at the half only to see Worcester claw back behind their senior center. With the hosts holding a 35-26 lead, the Lancers would go on a 7-0 run capped by an O'Keefe triple making it 35-33 in favor of MCLA.
After a nip and tuck seven minutes of play, the score was knotted at 47 all after Danielle Scolpino knocked down a pair of free throws for the Trailblazers with just 3:12 remaining. Worcester grabbed the lead on Alyssa Jasper's lay-in following a nice pass from O'Keefe. Following an MCLA turnover, O'Keefe made one of two from the line to push Worcester to a 50-47 lead with only 1:19 left.
Worcester got a defensive stop, made two more free throws to make it 52-47 before Lucy Tremblay's three point play cut the deficit to 52-50 with 27 seconds remaining. Forced to foul, O'Keefe sank the first of a pair giving MCLA a chance to tie it. A Scolpino free throw brought MCLA to within two at 53-51. Meaghan Burns made the front end to give Worcester a three point lead and MCLA's last three pointer was well short giving the Lancers the win.
The opening half saw Worcester State jump out quickly as O'Keefe knocked down her first two jumpers giving the Lancers a 10-3 lead just three minutes into the contest. MCLA would respond with a 10-0 run as Tremblay scored six points in the run to take a 13-10 lead. Following some back and forth action, the Trailblazers would take control. With the score at 17-16 in favor of Worcester, MCLA went on a 15-2 run in taking their largest first half lead at 31-19. Scolpino had ten points in the run including a pair of three pointers.
Worcester would trim the margin to 31-24 at halftime after scoring the final five points of the half. Scolpino and Tremblay combined for 21 of MCLA's first half output. O'Keefe was held to six first half points, but did grab 12 rebounds in the opening twenty minutes.
O'Keefe was 7-14 from the floor and had 10 offensive boards for the victors. She also added three blocks and pair of steals. She was the only Lancer in double figures. Her command of the glass led Worcester to a 54-38 rebounding edge over MCLA.
Scolpino dropped 18 points to lead MCLA including four three pointers. Tremblay finished with 16 points.
Both teams shot 31% from the floor.
MCLA will host Westfield State on Tuesday night at 5:30pm looking to break into the win column.