Women’s Basketball Storms Past MCLA, 77-31

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team cruised to a 77-31 victory over the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Saturday afternoon in the first game of the season at the Lahue Athletic Center.

The Lions climb to 2-0 on the year with the win while the Trailblazers fall to 0-1 overall.

Tyra Davis (Houston, Texas) poured in a career-high 16 points off the bench while adding five rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Sydni Oviatt (Fruit Heights, Utah) netted 12 points and grabbed seven boards to go with five assists and three blocks. Sophia Torres (Fort Mohave, Ariz.) finished with 12 points while Shade Richardson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) tallied 10 points.

Eastern Nazarene raced out to a double-figure lead as Richardson tossed in a layup with 4:03 remaining in the first frame, 15-5.

The Lions closed out the opening quarter with a 22-2 run to command a 26-7 advantage.

The hosts outscored the Trailblazers 17-9 in the second period to boast a 43-16 halftime-lead.

The Lions posted a field-goal percentage of 50% in the first half while the Trailblazers were limited to 25% shooting from the floor. Both teams drained 2-of-8 from three-point territory in the opening two quarters of play.

Davis and Torres paced Eastern Nazarene with 10 points each while Richardson chipped in with eight points.

The home team chalked up 22 points in the third and held MCLA to just seven points to hold a 65-23 advantage heading into the final frame.

The Lions' largest lead of the game came with 7:34 left to play in regulation as Te'yalla Simpson (Fairfield, Texas) knocked down a mid-range jumper to push the margin to 47, 70-23.

Eastern Nazarene edged the visitors 12-8 in fourth-quarter to secure its second-straight victory.

The hosts concluded the contest with a field-goal percentage of 47.1% to go with a 6-for-16 effort from beyond the arc. MCLA shot 26.4% from the floor and 18.8% from long range on the afternoon.

Hannah Mazzeo paced the Trailblazers with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Emily Burke chipped in with nine points and Brooke DiGennaro added seven points off the bench.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene heads to Beantown to battle Wentworth November 9.