AMHERST, Mass. -- The high scoring Trailblazer duo of Hayden Bird and Dylan Morris-Gray combined for 59 points to lead MCLA past Rutgers-Camden 78-57 Saturday afternoon in the consolation round of the Ken Wright Invitational hosted by Amherst College.

 

One week ago, Bird set a school record with 12 triples and almost matched it againt Camden with 11. He ended with a game-best 33 points while Morris-Gray added 26 for the Trailblazers.

 

MCLA improves to 2-4 overall while Rutgers-Camden is still searching for their first win at 0-5.

 

The Trailblazers trailed early in this one as they fell behind 10-6. They used a quick 8-0 spurt to take their first lead at 14-10. Later in the half with the score at 16-15 in favor of MCLA, they went on a game breaking 13-0 spurt to increase the lead to 29-15. MCLA ended the half on a Bird triple to take a sizable 43-24 lead into the locker room.

 

In the second half, the Drury High graduate kept the visitors at bay. He poured in 15 of his 33 points over the closing 20 minutes. Morris-Gray was still effective, but he did most of his damage in the opening stanza.  utgers Camden never got closer than 14 in the second half as MCLA pulled away.

 

Bird ended with 33 points on 11-for-25 shooting. All his field goals were from beyond the arc.  His 11 made threes are second all time only behind his effort against Rivier a week ago.  Morris-Gray stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points (9-20 FG's), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.

 

The MCLA defense held their opponent under 60 for the first time this season.  

 

The Trailblazers will wrap up play before Thanksgiving on Tuesday when they make the short trip to Williamstown to face Williams at 7 p.m.

 

Women's Basketball

UTICA, N.Y. -- The Utica women's basketball team clamped down on the MCLA Trailblazers en route to a convincing 88-35 win in non-league play.  The Pioneers improve to 4-0 on the season while MCLA falls to 0-5.

 

Utica placed five players in double figures led by Sydney Przgoda's game high 15 point night.  She added 11 rebounds and 6 assists in the win.  Petrina DeMarco and Hannah Stack added 12 points apiece while Krissy Geraci chipped in with 11.

 

MCLA hung with the Pioneers and trailed just 14-13 after one quarter of play. Utica turned it up though in the second quarter as they outscored MCLA 35-8. The defense led to offense and the Pioneers now led 49-21 at halftime. In the second half, Utica extended the lead and cruised home the rest of the way.

 

Hannah Mazzeo led MCLA with 11 points and 7 rebounds. Emily Burke chipped in with 10 in the loss.

 

MCLA could not recover from a 23% shooting night.

 

MCLA is back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Cobleskill for a 6 p.m. tilt.