NEWTON, Mass. – Junior Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) scored 25 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out six assists to help the Lasell College women's basketball team pick up its first victory of the season with a 58-55 triumph over Wentworth Institute of Technology.
With the win the Lasers even their record at 1-1 while the Leopards fall to 1-2 on the young season.
Lasell scored the first five points of the game with Stopera draining a 3-point basket 1:45 into the contest to cap the spurt. Wentworth went on an 11-0 run over the next three minutes and took an 11-5 lead when sophomore Kellie Messer (Hollis, N.H.) made a jumper.
After the Lasers cut the lead to a pair, the Leopards scored the next four points, including a shot from behind the arc by Megan McLaughlin (Southington, Conn.) to push the lead back to six. A three-point play from junior Rachael Camara (Fall River, Mass.) with 6:15 left would put the Back & Gold's lead to seven.
Lasell used an 8-3 spurt to pull within two, thanks in part to five points from sophomore Sherilyn Small (Springfield, Mass.) and a Stopera trifecta. Junior Carly Rogers (Scarborough, Maine) hit a basket to put the Leopards up four before Small's layup made it a 25-23 game at the conclusion of the first half.
The Leopards led by as many as four on a pair of occasions and held a 33-30 lead after a freshman Riselly Deoleo (Manchester, N.H.) basket with 14:12 left. Stopera scored the Lasers' next eight points and the hosts would lead 38-35 with 10:20 left.
Lasell held a 51-43 lead with 3:32 left after Small hit a layup, however the Leopards clawed back to pull within two (54-52), thanks in part to three points from Rogers and Camara's two free throws with 13 ticks left.
After a time out, Stopera was fouled and hit two free throws to make it a four-point game with 11 seconds left. McLaughlin drained a three to bring Wentworth within one (56-55), however a pair of free throws from junior Brianna Williams (Bloomfield, Conn.) would seal the win for Lasell.
Small finished the game with 13 points and six assists while Williams had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.
Camara had 16 points, eight rebounds, and two steals for the Leopards, while Rogers added 15 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. McLaughlin finished with nine points, three rebounds, and three assists, and Deoleo had six points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Lasell plays UMass Boston at the Salem State Tournament on Friday while Wentworth is at the University of St. Joseph on Saturday.
LASELL 58, WENTWORTH 55
WENTWORTH (1-2)
Rachael Camara 5-15 5-5 16; Carly Rogers 5-11 5-8 15; Megan McLaughlin 3-9 0-0 9; Riselly Deoleo 3-12 0-0 6; Kellie Messer 1-6 2-3 4; Haley Sabino 1-3 1-2 3; Courtney McCormick 1-2 0-0 2; Helena Kiritsy 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-59 13-18 55.
LASELL (1-1)
Katie Stopera 8-15 4-7 25; Sherilyn Small 6-13 1-1 13; Breeana Williams 3-11 4-5 10; Breanna Cashman 3-7 0-0 6; Sammy Long 1-5 0-0 3; Brianna Smith 0-5 1-2 1; Morgan Church 0-3 0-0 0; Madison Cota 0-1 0-0 0; Justine Ryan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-61 10-15 58.
Wentworth..................... 25 30 - 55
Lasell........................ 23 35 - 58
3-point goals--Wentworth 4-18 (Megan McLaughlin 3-8; Rachael Camara 1-7; Riselly Deoleo 0-2; Courtney McCormick 0-1), Lasell 6-15 (Katie Stopera 5-8; Sammy Long 1-3; Breeana Williams 0-1; Morgan Church 0-2; Madison Cota 0-1). Fouled out--Wentworth-None, Lasell-None. Rebounds--Wentworth 43 (Carly Rogers 10), Lasell 43 (Breeana Williams 10). Assists--Wentworth 12 (Riselly Deoleo 4), Lasell 15 (Katie Stopera 6; Sherilyn Small 6). Total fouls--Wentworth 17, Lasell 17. Technical fouls--Wentworth-None, Lasell-None. A-75
