CHICOPEE, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team breezed by Elms 68-38 to begin league action Saturday afternoon.

The Lions improve to 8-1 on the season and 1-0 in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) with the win. The Blazers fall to 4-9 overall and 1-2 in conference play with the result.

Stevie Orton (Gilford, N.H.) notched a game-best 14 points. Kyra Fleharty (Lewistown, Mont.) poured in 11 points, grabbed six boards, and added three assists. Off the bench, Seniesha Sekaquaptewa (Second Mesa, Ariz.) chipped in with eight points while Sydni Oviatt (Fruit Heights, Utah) netted seven points.

After a back-and-forth first period, the visitors emerged with a 14-11 lead as they concluded the quarter with a 6-3 run.

Eastern Nazarene strung together a 17-2 run to widen the margin to 31-13 with 2:28 left to play in the second frame.

The Lions sported a 35-19 advantage at the halftime intermission after outscoring the Blazers 21-8 in the second period.

Eastern Nazarene shot 46.4% from the floor and 33.3% from beyond the arc in the first two quarters. Elms was limited to a field-goal percentage of 23.3% and just 3-of-12 shooting from three-point range in the opening half.

The visitors extended the margin to 41-21 with 7:09 remaining in the third as Fleharty splashed a trey.

The Lions finished the third quarter with a commanding 51-29 lead after outscoring the home team 16-10 in the frame.

Eastern Nazarene chalked up 17 points in the fourth quarter and limited Elms to just seven points en route to locking up its first conference victory of the year.

The Lions posted a field-goal percentage of 49.1% and drained 4-of-10 from behind the arc in the contest. The Blazers shot 20% from the floor and 18.2% from long distance on the afternoon.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene visits Lesley January 7.

"DONAT3" UPDATE
Donated Amount: $732
Three-pointers Made: 46