BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Kristie Zator (Windham, Conn.) scored 16 points to help the MCLA women's basketball team (2-8) hold off Wentworth Institute of Technology, 41-40, in non-conference play Saturday afternoon.

The back-and-forth contest featured five ties and 16 lead changes, including eight lead changes in the second quarter.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams got off to a slow start with MCLA eventually taking a 6-2 lead with 5:02 left in the opening quarter after a jumper from sophomore Zaylee Ramos (Worcester, Mass.). Wentworth countered with a layup from junior Gabby Amoddio (Wethersfield, Conn.) and tied the game with 1:49 left after a layup from freshman Aissata Conde (Brockton, Mass.). A layup from sophomore Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, Mass.) gave the Trailblazers an 8-6 lead before Conde hit one of two free throws with 43 seconds left to make it a one-point contest.
• The teams traded baskets over the first 2:10 of the second quarter with Conde giving the Leopards a 13-12 lead with 7:50 left. Freshman Samantha Jones (Beverly, Mass.) extended the lead to three (15-12) with a jumper 33 seconds later, however, four straight points from Peabody gave MCLA a 16-15 lead with 6:22 left. After junior Maddy Foster (Lewiston, Maine) made a layup to give the Black & Gold a 17-16 lead, the Trailblazers used a 9-2 run – capped off by a Zator three – which gave MCLA a 26-19 lead with 54 seconds left in the half. Foster cut the lead to 26-22 at the break when she buried a three as time expired.
• Scoring the first five points of the second half, Wentworth took a 27-26 lead on an Amoddio layup with 6:53 left. After a back-and-forth quarter, Foster's layup with 49 seconds left gave the Leopards a 32-30 lead after three quarters.
• A three-point play from freshman Kaylee Ray (Windham, Conn.) gave MCLA a 33-32 lead, the first of five lead changes in the final quarter. However, Amoddio countered with a jumper of her own to give the hosts a 34-33 lead. Six straight points from Zator gave the Trailblazers a 41-36 lead with 3:40 left. Conde made a layup with 2:35 left to cut the lead to three (41-38) and, with 46 seconds left, sophomore Reagan Madonia (Corrales, N.M.) made it a one-point game.
• With 34.7 seconds left, Wentworth forced a turnover, however, gave the ball back with 25.6 ticks to go. Two missed free throws gave the ball back to the Black & Gold with 24.1 seconds left. A go-ahead jumper attempt from Amoddio was off the mark but Jones grabbed the offensive rebound, giving Wentworth a second chance to take the lead. Out of a time out, a game-winning three-point attempt rimmed out just before time expired.
• In addition to her 16 points, Zator had six rebounds and five steals. Peabody added 14 points and eight rebounds.
• Conde recorded a career-high 16 points, while Foster added nine and grabbed 11 rebounds. Amoddio scored six, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out five assists. Wentworth had a 44-34 rebounding advantage.

SERIES NOTES:

• Wentworth leads the all-time series, 2-1.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth takes a break for the holidays before returning to action on Tuesday, January 2, when the Leopards travel to Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Suffolk.

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