NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The MCLA women's basketball team received a 21-point, 10-rebound effort from Kayla Hotaling as the Trailblazers defeated the Worcester State Lancers, 61-58, in MASCAC action Saturday afternoon from the Amsler Campus Center Gym.

 

With the win, the Trailblazers avenged an earlier loss to the Lancers as they improved to 11-8 overall and stand at 3-4 in conference play.  The Lancers drop to 5-14 overall and have a 2-5 mark in league play.

 

MCLA (11-8, 3-4) never trailed in the final quarter of play and was clinging to a 58-57 lead after WSU's TaNajia Smith went one of two from the line.  MCLA's Courtney Durivage connected from 16 feet for a key bucket with 1:26 left to play pushing the lead to three points, but still left plenty of time for the Lancers (5-14, 2-5). Smith was sent to the line again and knocked another freebie down making it 60-58 in favor of MCLA. The Trailblazers missed on the next possession giving the Lancers another shot.

 

MCLA dodged a bullet when Worcester missed twice in the paint on the next possession and the Lancers were forced to foul. They sent Durivage to the line with 33 seconds left, but she promptly missed both giving WSU life and possession at midcourt following a timeout. The Lancers, however, committed their 31st turnover on the inbounds play and once again were forced to foul.  They sent Courtney McLaughlin to the stripe and she knocked down one of two making it 61-58 with 23 seconds left.

 

Forced to take a 3-pointer, the Lancers Brianna Hackett attempted a desperation three that was blocked by MCLA's Ashley Clawson to preserve the victory for the Trailblazers.

 

MCLA hosts Westfield State on Wednesday.

 

MEN'S BASKETBALL

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The Worcester State trio of Alex Santos, Bilal Shakir, and Ryan DiBernardo combined for 76 points in leading the Lancers past the MCLA men's basketball team, 104-96, in overtime Saurday afternoon in MASCAC action from the Amsler Campus Center Gym.

 

The Trailblazers (4-15, 0-7) seemed to be in control of this one as they led 80-73 following a Paul Maurice free throw with just 3:10 remaining. The Lancers (13-7, 5-2) went on an 8-0 spurt to switch the momentum as Shakir started the run with a jumper. Following a Trailblazer turnover, it was Santos' turn as his jumper with 1:51 left brought WSU within 80-77. Another defensive stop by the visitors and a DiBernardo layup made it 80-79 still in favor of MCLA with 1:13 remaining.

 

The Lancers forced another turnover and when Santos was fouled, he connected on both free throws to make it 81-80 in favor of the Lancers with under a minute to play. MCLA's Dakari Hannah Wornum converted a conventional three-point play with 28 seconds left off a nice feed from Ki-Shawn Monroe giving MCLA back the lead at 83-81. DiBinardo drove the lane for the Lancers and converted with 21 seconds left tying the game at 83.

 

From there, Trailblazer Khalil Paul went the length of the floor and made a short pull up jumper with 11 seconds left putting MCLA on top. Without calling timeout, the Lancers Santos took the ball the length of the floor and his pullup jumper with 0.4 on the clock tied the game and sent it to overtime.

 

MCLA is back at home on Wednesday night when it hosts Westfield State at 7:30 p.m.