WBK: Lasell drops tight game to Mitchell; Ortiz posts double-double for Lasers

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's basketball team dropped a 77-75 decision to Mitchell College Thursday evening in a tightly-contested non-conference game at the Lasell Athletic Center.

Senior Amanda Ortiz (Newton, Mass.) made a free throw for Lasell with five seconds remaining to tie the game at 75-all, but sophomore Amina Wiley (New Rochelle, N.Y.) scored the go-ahead basket for Mitchell with 2.3 seconds to go. She missed the ensuing free throw and Lasell got the rebound but could not get a shot off before the clock ran out.

Mitchell evened its record at 3-3, while the Lasers drop to 4-3.

Wiley shot 13-for-21 from the floor and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds to notch her fifth double-double of the season. Freshman Sam McKenna (Millbrook, N.Y.) added 24 points and eight boards, making five three-pointers, and freshman Leilani McClellan (Bozrah, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points.

Ortiz led the Lasers with 25 points and 13 rebounds, her sixth straight game with at least 20 points, her third straight double-double and fourth overall. Ortiz had 16 points in the opening quarter and 24 at the half. Senior D'Asia Allen (Providence, R.I.) added 13 points and seven assists, and junior Precious Montgomery (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored 11 points off the Laser bench.

Lasell shot 55 percent in the opening quarter (11-20) to take a 26-22 after 10 minutes. The Lasers continued their hot shooting, hitting at a 73.3 percent clip in the second quarter, and led 51-39 at the break.

The Mariners bounced back with a strong third quarter, outscoring the hosts 21-11. Mitchell pulled ahead 60-59 with a minute to play, but Lasell answered with free throws from junior Devyn Markland (Derby, Conn.) and Montgomery and led 62-60 after three. The fourth quarter was tight, with neither side owning a lead of more than three over the final 10 minutes and setting up the dramatic finish.

Both teams will be back in action with non-conference games on Saturday, December 7, as Lasell plays at Lesley University at 1:30 p.m. at Medford High School and Mitchell visits Anna Maria College for a 1 p.m. clash.

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