MCLA Women Survive 3-Point Barrage, Beat Sage 87-81

By Jeffrey PuleriMCLA Sports Info
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Playing a Friday night non-league game, the MCLA women's basketball team survived a second half three-point barrage from visiting Sage College in an 87-81 win. MCLA's Jen Wehner (Cooperstown, N.Y.) and Molly Broda (Southampton, Mass.) combined for 43 points in the victory. With the win, MCLA improves to 13-7, while Sage falls to 8-12.

The first half opened with MCLA in control early, taking a six-point advantage just five minutes into game (14-8). The Gators would battle back however to tie the game at 14 when Elizabeth Donk knocked down consecutive buckets. The remainder of the half saw MCLA take a small edge until Sage again rallied, this time taking a three point lead at 34-31 with two minutes to play.

A quick 6-0 spurt by the Trailblazers would give them a 37-34 edge into the locker room. MCLA would continue the run to start the second half scoring the first six to take a 43-34 advantage. After trading baskets, Broda would connect from deep giving the hosts their largest lead of the night at 48-39 with 16:04 to play.

Sage would cut the lead to three at 59-56 on Carlin DeMarinis' three pointer. MCLA would respond though, pushing the lead back to 11 at 72-61 with 6:36 remaining.

Donk and DeMarinis would trigger a 13-0 run for Sage as they accounted for all the points, including three from behind the arc. The spurt would give the Gators a 74-72 lead with just under four minutes to play.

MCLA turned the two-point deficit to an 80-74 lead using an 8-0 run to essentially put the game away. Senior Jade Prickett would tally six points during the decisive run. MCLA would go 7-8 from the line in the final minute of play to provide the final margin.

Wehner would finish her night with a double double, recording a game high 14 rebounds and seven blocks to go along with her team-high 22 points. Broda would finish with 21, including 16 in the second half. She would finish with three from behind the arc. Prickett would end the night with 12.

Sage received monster performances from Donk and DeMarinis, who both finished with 26 points. DeMarinis finished with seven 3-pointers in the game. Jessica Byerwalters added a double-double, notching 11 points and 10 boards. Sage shot 50 percent from 3-point land on the night.

MCLA is back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Westfield for a key MASCAC matchup.

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SteepleCats Fall to Upper Valley Nighthawks

By Ben McDonoughFor iBerkshires.com
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams SteepleCats were unable to overcome a pair of multi-run innings Friday night at Joe Wolfe Field, falling 5-1 to the Upper Valley Nighthawks.
 
North Adams pitcher Jakob Foster was making his first start after throwing only two innings earlier in the season and looked sharp early. The right-hander struck out two in a scoreless first inning before punching out three more hitters in the second, allowing just a hit batter to reach base.
 
Upper Valley broke through in the third. Alejandro Puig opened the inning with a single before James Love doubled with two outs. A two-run double by Magoulik gave the Nighthawks a 2-0 lead before Foster escaped the frame.
 
The SteepleCats struggled to generate offense against Upper Valley starter Trey Sejnoha, who retired the first nine North Adams hitters in order. Nick Lamelo finally reached in the third, hustling into second on a ball misplayed in right field.
 
North Adams put together its best threat of the game in the fourth. Bobby Stang reached on an error and Nelphie Lopez worked a walk to put two runners aboard. Chris Diaz moved both runners into scoring position with a groundout, but Sejnoha induced a foul fly ball to end the inning and strand both runners.
 
The Nighthawks added to their lead in the fifth. After an error extended the inning, Upper Valley loaded the bases before a hit batter forced home a run. Jake Bell followed with a two-run double, pushing the Nighthawks’ advantage to 5-0.
 
The SteepleCats answered with another opportunity in the bottom half of the inning. Shawn Stephenson and Owen Arias recorded back-to-back infield singles, and a walk to Evan Meier loaded the bases with two outs. Reliever Nick Tamburro entered and escaped the jam with a strikeout, preserving the shutout.
 
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