Leopards Drop Second Straight to Even Record at 2-2

(Courtesy of Brandeis Sports Information)

WALTHAM, Mass. – Four Mount Holyoke (2-1) players scored in double figures, paced by a game-high 17 points by rookie guard Angelica Pascual (Lawrence, Mass./Proctor Acad.) to go with nine rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, to lead Mount Holyoke past Wentworth, 59-50 in the third place game of the Brandeis Tip-Off Tournament.

An evenly played first half saw six times and seven lead changes and no team leading by more than five points at any time.  The Lyons took a two-point lead (27-25) at the break on a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining.

The key run in the game came midway through the second half. After the Leopards cut the Mount Holyoke lead to six at 39-33 with 9:23 remaining, Pascual scored seven unanswered points. That pushed the lead to 13 and the Lyons were able to hang on for the win.

Senior forward Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) registered a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while classmate Erin Cain (Quincy, Mass./Fontbonne Acad.) and sophomore forward Tricia Chase (Feeding Hills, Mass./Cathedral) each had 11 points. Cain also led all players with five assists.

Wentworth (2-2) also had a double-double performance, as junior forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y./Avon Central) finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Michelle Fauci (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet Regional) led the Leopards with 14 points and four steals. Fauci, who averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 4.0 steals in the two games, was named to the all-tournament team.