CHICOPEE, Mass. – Sophomore Erin Morton (Norway, Maine) poured in 19 points in the Wentworth women's basketball season opener, but the Leopards fell to Elms College, 70-53, in Picknelly Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Morton led Wentworth (0-1) on 7-of-10 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 showing from beyond the arc, and collected six rebounds and four assists. Classmate Stephanie Mini (Topsfield, Mass.) added 13 points and two rebounds, while senior Francesca Matira (Ledyard, Conn.) contributed seven points and two rebounds.
Blazer (1-0) post players Niah Pantry (New Haven, Conn.) and Angelica Peguero-Flores (Springfield, Mass.) each turned in double-doubles. Pantry led all scorers with 23 points and added 15 boards, including seven offensive. Peguero-Flores added 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. The Blazers out-rebounded Wentworth (0-1) 57-41 and outscored the Leopards 42-16 in the paint.
The Blazers jumped out to a 22-12 lead after the first quarter and never trailed in the contest. Elms shot 40.3 percent from the field and held to Leopards to a 28.8 percent clip. The Leopards settled in throughout the second half, outscoring the hosts by one, 33-32, but the first half damage proved to be too large for Wentworth. Neither team was particularly efficient at the free throw line, as Elms hit half of its 16 attempts while Wentworth connected on 11 of 23.
Wentworth returns to action on November 13 at former CCC foe Eastern Nazarene, while Elms will continue its three-game season-opening home stand on Nov. 14 when Rhode Island College visits Picknelly Arena at 7:00 p.m.
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