WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts women's basketball team recieved 23 points from tournament MVP Lucy Tremblay and a double-double off the bench from Tashari Rainwater as the Trailblazers defeated Susquehanna 69-58 in the Hoops for Hounds tournament championship hosted by Lycoming College.
With the win, MCLA improves to 7-4 overall and Susquehanna drops to 4-7.
MCLA's Johanna Miner joined Tremblay on the All Tournament team along with Meghan Nowak (Eastern), Julia Antonelli (Lycoming) and Jonaida Williams (Susquehanna).
Tremblay got MCLA off to a strong start by scoring the game's first seven points. Susquehanna responded with an 8-0 run of their own to take an early lead at 8-7. Susquehanna, however, had no answer for Tremblay in the opening half as the senior poured in 19 first-half points leading MCLA to a 35-32 halftime edge.
Early in the second half, MCLA used a tenacious run to take command. MCLA coach Holly McGovern decided to start Rainwater in the second half and the sophomore took advantage. She had all of her 11 points after halftime. MCLA used a 19-3 run out of the locker room to take a commanding 54-35 lead.
The lead remained in double digits until Susquehanna trimmed it to 64-56 with 2:48 remaining. Tremblay then calmly knocked down some free throws to push back out to a double-digit lead and MCLA never looked back.
Tremblay was held to four points in the second half, but did finish with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Rainwater earned her first career double-double off of a 4-7 shooting performance. She grabbed 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. Danielle Scolpino finished in double figures with 10 points.
Susquehanna was led by Jonaida Williams' 18 points off the bench. Gina Palazzi added 15 points and 12 boards in the losing effort.
MCLA is off until Jan. 3 when they travel to face Southern Vermont at 7 p.m.
