Women’s Hoops Season Ends with a Loss to Simmons

NEWTON, MA- The Lasell College women's basketball team's 2009-2010 season came to a close on Senior Day, with a 75-42 loss to the Sharks of Simmons College.  Lasell's sole senior, forward Tricia Culver (Northampton, MA) scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds in her final performance for the Blue & White.  

Simmons shot nearly 50% in the first half, and finished with an overall shooting percentage of 43.1%, good for double the Lasers' total shot percentage (21.4%).  The Sharks also held a significant 57-40 rebounding margin over the Lasers.  Sophomore guard Jessica Thomas (East Sandwich, MA) had a standout performance for the Sharks, scoring 21 points, going six-for-ten from downtown.  Also scoring in double-figures were Stephanie Fox (West Springfield, MA) and Julianna Eagles (Quincy, MA), who tallied 13 and 11 points respectively.   

Culver was the leading scorer for Lasell, and the only Laser to hit double-figures.  Freshman guard Reegan Brackett (Scarborough, ME) chipped in with nine points in the contest, and sophomore guard Kelsey Converse (Laconia, NH) drained two three-pointers and totaled seven points for the Lasers. Freshman forward Kim Archibald (Lewiston, ME) ripped down a game-high ten rebounds for Lasell. 

It took almost two minutes for either team to get on the board, but a fast-break by Liz O'Connor (Milton, MA) put the Sharks ahead first, 2-0.  Culver dropped in a baseline jump shot a minute later to tie things up, and a second Culver bucket gave Lasell a 4-2 lead at the 16 minute mark.  

Three straight trey's by Thomas sparked Simmons into an 11-2 run, which culminated in a seven point lead for the visitors.  Converse's first three of the game cut the Shark's lead to four points, 13-9, but within two minutes, Simmons held a double-digit advantage, capped with Thomas' fourth three.  

Simmons continued to pull away, building up to a 38-17 halftime lead.

The rims were unkind to both teams in the opening three minutes of the second half, as neither team could connect with the basket.  Lasell's Brittany Jefferies (Medford, MA) layed-in the first bucket of the half before three uninterrupted trifectas sent Simmons on another 11-1 run.  

Lasell had chances down the stretch to close the gap, but they could not get their baskets to fall.  The Lasers also had trouble at the foul line, connecting on just nine-of-sixteen total freebies in the contest.  

Simmons, however, had no difficulty connecting with the hoop, finishing the day with eleven total three-point field goals, shooting 44% from beyond the arc.

Lasell's season ends with a 7-18 overall record, and 3-9 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference slate.  The Sharks will finish their regular season with a 16-8 overall, and a 8-4 GNAC, record.  Simmons will play in the quarter-finals of the GNAC post-season tournament on Tuesday, February 23rd. Seeding for the tournament has yet to be announced.