No. 3 Elms College Pulls Away from No. 6 Newbury

CHICOPEE, MA, Feb. 24, 2009 - Junior forward Amanda Brogna (Oxford, MA) netted a game-high 16 points and No. 3 Elms College used a big run early in the second half to pull away to a 72-42 women's basketball win over No. 6 Newbury College in the first round of the inaugural New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Tournament on Tuesday night at the Maguire Center.

With the win, Elms College (15-11) advanced to Friday night's conference tournament and will face No. 2 Lesley University (15-10) at Mitchell College. Game time is 8:00 p.m.

The Blazers' 15^th win of the year marked the second highest, single-season total in the program's 29-year history. Elms College is now just one-win shy of the school-record set during a 16-8 season in 1990-91.

Newbury (5-21) lost its fourth straight game to end the season and was eliminated from the tournament.

 Elms College freshman point guard Carolyn Talmadge (Wilbraham, MA) narrowly missed a double-double, as she finished with 14 points and a game-high nine assists, and junior forward Erin Hutchinson (Groton, MA) recorded the game's only double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the winning effort.

The Blazers led 30-19 at halftime then ripped the game open with a 14-4 run over the first 4:46 of the second half, as Hutchinson dropped in eight of her points during the run.

After shooting just 33.3-percent (12 of 36) in the opening 20 minutes, Elms College shot 56.7-percent (17 of 30) in the second half to pull away.

The Blazers, who limited the Nighthawks to just 25.4-percent shooting (16 of 63), held a 36-12 scoring advantage in the paint.

Junior forward Rashawna Wynn (Baltimore, MD) finished with 14 points as the only Newbury player to reach double figures.

Justin Mokerzecki

SID - Elms College