News
2007-2008
Vassallo, Okrah Honored by GNAC
Emerson College women's basketball players Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn., left) and Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) have each been selected for honors by the women's basketball coaches in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Vassallo was a second team All-Conference selection, and Okrah has been selected as Defensive Player of the Year.
Vassallo averaged a double-double for the season with 11.9 points per game and an even 10 rebounds. She led the Lions in scoring in eight games and in rebounding in 18 of the Lions 26 games. She was also top on the team in blocks averaging one per game.
Okrah (right) was normally assigned to guard the opposition's best player. She picked up 48 steals and added 10 blocks. Okrah also pulled in 99 defensive rebounds.
Emerson finished the season with a 15-11 record, was 10-3 in the GNAC and finished tied for third place.
Johnson & Wales Women’s Basketball Downs Emerson, 66-64 In GNAC Quarterfinals
From Johnson & Wales University Sports Information 2/26/08
Providence, R.I. – Junior Johanna Santosuosso scored a team high 17 points and added six rebounds and five assists to lead the Johnson & Wales University women’s basketball team to a 66-64 victory against Emerson in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference quarterfinal contest at the Harborside Recreation Center on Tuesday evening. With the win the Wildcats advance to the GNAC semifinals on Friday, February 29th. The game will be played at Emmanuel, the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Johnson & Wales had five players in double figures in the victory. Sophomore Alexia Ramirez scored 15 points for the Wildcats. Freshman Morgan Wilson and junior Alyse Ragaglia each had 10 points in the victory.
Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass.) led the way for Emerson with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) also had a double-double with 18 points and 15 boards in the setback for the Lions. Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) was also in double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss.
Emerson jumped out an early 14-4 lead after a jumper by Okrah with 13:44 left in the first half. The visiting Lions held Johnson & Wales to 1-15 from the floor in the first six minutes of the game. Johnson & Wales responded, however with a 14-4 run of their own and tied the game at 18-18 on a three pointer by Ramirez with 7:04 remaining in the half. The two teams then traded baskets through the remainder of the half as JWU took the 26-25 lead into the locker room at halftime. JWU forced 13 Emerson turnovers in the half and had the lead at halftime despite shooting just 27.5% (11-for-40) from the field, including 3-of-17 from behind the three point stripe.
It was a back and forth battle throughout the early stages of the second half with the score tied 49-49 with 6:42 left in the contest. Johnson & Wales took a 60-57 lead on a free throw by Santosuosso with 2:31 remaining. The visiting Lions regained the lead when a layup by Okrah made the score 63-62 with twenty eight seconds left. After an Emerson foul, Moxley hit a pair of free throws to give the Wildcats the 64-63 lead. Ramirez then hit a pair of free throws to extend the JWU lead to 66-63 with nine seconds on the clock. Emerson’s Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) was sent to the free throw line with four seconds left in the game. She hit one of two free throws to pull the Lions to 66-64. After a missed free throw by Santosuosso, a three-pointer by Kosek hit off the backboard as the Wildcats held on for the 66-64 win.
With the win Johnson & Wales is now 13-12 on the season while Emerson falls to 15-11. The Wildcats will take travel to Emmanuel and take on the Saints in the semi-finals of the GNAC Championship Tournament on February 29th.
Lions Devour Falcons 81-60
Boston, Mass. (2/23/08) - Emerson College (15-10, 10-3 Great Northeast Athletic conference) overcame a slow start and went on to defeat Albertus Magnus College (10-15, 3-10 GNAC) 81-60 in the final regular season game for both teams.
Emerson, starting all four of its seniors on Senior Day, was sluggish early falling behind 11-8, four and a half minutes into the game. The Lions then went on a 39-12 run over the next eleven minutes and went into halftime with a 44-24 advantage.
The second half proved more of the same as Emerson extended the lead to 66-37 before coasting home with the victory.
Twelve of Emerson's 13 players scored in the game with Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I.) leading the way with 14 points. Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) had 13, and Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) and Kathy Andrade ( FY, Hull, Mass.) each added a dozen. Andrade had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Nikki McClease had 11 points for Albertus, and Dena Mentel added 11.
The game marked the final home regular season contest for seniors DeStefano, Mallroy Frers (Sharon, Mass.), Becky Everett (Orange, Mass.) and Kelly Kwiecinski (Easthampton, Mass.).
Emerson advances to the first round of the GNAC Playoffs where the Lions will travel to Providence, R.I. to take on Johnson & Wales University. The game is set for Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00pm. Albertus Magnus has finished its season.
SAINTS SURVIVE LIONS’ SECOND HALF SURGE
from Emmanuel College Sports Information 2/12/08Game Boxscore
Boston, MA – Sophomore guard Iman Davis hit a lay-up with 1.8 seconds to play to boost Emmanuel to a 65-63 win over visiting Emerson College in Tuesday night’s Great Northeast Athletic Conference women’s basketball action. The Saints picked up their 10th conference win and improved to 17-6 on the season with tonight’s win over the Lions who fell to 13-10 and 8-3 in conference play.
Emerson took the first lead of the game on a free throw by guard Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.). Emmanuel took an advantage on the next bucket and went on an 11-1 run in the opening four minutes of play. The Saints led for the remainder of the first half and took an eight point lead into the break, 30-22. The Saints swelled their lead to sixteen points with 14:42 to play, when freshman guard Kristin LeBel was fouled on a three-pointer and completed the four-point play.
With 10:23 to go, Emmanuel led 51-39. The Lions were able to hold the Saints scoreless for the next four minutes. Emerson went on a 12-0 run and tied the game at 51-51 with 6:42 remaining. LeBel hit the front end of a one-and-one situation for the Saints. The Lions were then able to score on their ensuing possession, taking the lead, 53-52. This would prove to be the visitors’ final advantage of the evening, but Emerson was in it until the final buzzer sounded.
Emerson sent Emmanuel to the line 30 times, but the Saints’ missed several key free throws down the stretch. Emmanuel led by four (63-59) with 1:22 to play. Emerson closed the gap to two points on a bucket in the paint by Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass.) at 1:11. The Saints turned the ball over and then committed a foul away from the hoop, sending Kosek to the line with 36 seconds to go. Kosek hit both free throws, tying the game at 63 all. The Lions then forced another Emmanuel turnover and called an immediate timeout with 15 ticks on the clock.
Emerson had possession of the basketball with a chance to win the game, when Emmanuel’s senior captain Jacque Pannell stole the ball in the backcourt and called timeout with 8 seconds to play. Senior guard Jade Paez inbounded the ball to Davis, who sliced through the Lion defense and laid the ball in on the right side with 1.8 seconds remaining. Emerson called their final timeout and ran a desperation play, but Davis picked off the long pass as time expired and the Saints came away with the win.
The Saints out-rebounded the Lions, 48-41, and forced 31 Emerson turnovers. Emmanuel had a balanced offensive attack with just one player scoring in double figures. Davis led the way with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. Paez and LeBel netted 9 points apiece, while senior guard Leah Lipschitz came off the bench to chip in with 8 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Emerson was led by Bri Papa (Jr., Camillus, N.Y.), who notched a game-high 18 points, including six three-pointers. Andrade recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, while Kosek added 10 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals in the effort.
Emerson travels to Hartford, Conn. on Saturday to take on St. Joseph College in a 1:00pm GNAC game.
Emerson Rally Gives Lions a Shot at GNAC Top Spot
BOSTON, MASS. (2/9/08) – Emerson College (13-9, 8-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) scored the first 20 points of the second half to blow open a tight game and defeat Pine Manor College (6-14, 2-8 GNAC) 62-38. The victory by Emerson, coupled with Suffolk University’s win over Emmanuel College means the winner of Tuesday evening’s Emerson–Emmanuel game will be in first place in the Conference.A sloppy first half in which neither team scored until Pine Manor’s Amanda Dennis hit a free throw 3:40 into the game, saw Emerson go out to a 12-3 lead with 7:06 remaining. Pine Manor scored the game’s next 10 points, taking the lead on two Laura Cecil free throws at the 4:01 mark. Emerson retook the lead on a layup by Bri Papa, (Jr., Camilus, N.Y.) and took a 21-16 advantage on a Cristal Montanez (FY., Bronx, N.Y.) jumper. Three free throws for the Gators followed by a jump shot by Enjolee Phillips made the halftime score 21-20.
Emerson blanked Pine Manor for the first 7:45 of the second half to put the game away. Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) had six points during the run. Okrah’s 11 points led the Lions who had all 13 players on the roster score. Papa was also in double figures with 10 points.
Phillips led the Gators with 20 points while Dennis added 11.
Emerson travels to Emmanuel Tuesday night for the first-place showdown with the game scheduled for a 7:30 tip.
Lions Take Sixth Straight win, Drop Rams 62-55
Game BoxscoreBOSTON, MASS. – Emerson College (12-9, 7-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) won its sixth straight game and moved into a tie for second place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference standings as the Lions defeated Suffolk University (13-6, 7-2 GNAC) 62-55.The Lions broke out to a 6-4 lead to start the game on two jumpers by Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) sandwiched around a layup by Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass.). Suffolk’s Stephanie Zito canned a three-point shot to give the Rams a 7-6 lead, but Emerson’s Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I.) answered with a three of her own to put the Lions back on top. The teams traded baskets until the Rams’ Kaitlin Klecha tied the score for the fourth time in the contest at 15.
A 10-2 run gave Emerson a 125-17 lead with 2:46 remaining in the first half, but Suffolk answered with six straight points to pull within 25-23. A Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) layup snapped the Suffolk string and gave Emerson a 27-23 halftime lead.
Emerson ran the lead to 14 with 7:11 remaining in the game on a layup by Andrade, but Suffolk crept back to trail only 58-54 with 1:27 left in the game on a trifecta from Katie Castignetti. Two Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) free throws moved the lead to 60-54. Klecha hit one of two free throws with 43 seconds left, but the Lions go two free throws from Vassallo to finish the scoring.
Vassallo had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead all scorers. DeStefano dropped in a dozen and Kosek had 11 for Emerson.
Castignetti had 16 for Suffolk, while Meghan Tracey had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Emerson hosts Pine Manor College on Saturday at noon.
Emerson Tops St. Joseph's for Fifth Consecutive Win, 72-55
Game Boxscore
Boston, Mass. (2/2/08) - Emerson’s Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) took the opening tip in for a layup with only four seconds gone in the game and the Lions never relinquished the lead in defeating St. Joseph's College 72-55. The victory moves Emerson into a third place tie with St. Joe’s in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference standings.Emerson’s first half lead stretched to 10 points following a three-point shot by Okrah. A Carolyn Freeman jumper brought the Monks to within 29-26, but a Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass., above left) layup followed by a Tamara Kearny (FY, Everett, Mass.) three-pointer gave Emerson a 34-26 lead with 2:29 remaining. A Freeman free throw was the only other scoring before the end of the half.
St. Joe’s was able to pull to within 38-35 on a layup by Meghan Daigle with 16:23 remaining in the game. Andrade answered with two free throws, and an Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) trifecta bumped the lead back to eight. Megan Farrell drilled two free throws at the 10:42 mark to pull the Monks to within six points, but Emerson went on an 11-0 run to put the game away.
Andrade led all scorers with 25 points and had 13 rebounds. Okrah had 13 and Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) 10 for Emerson (11-9, 6-2 GNAC).
Daigle and Allison Miner each had 10 points for the Monks (13-6, 6-2 GNAC).
Emerson’s next game is at home against Suffolk University on Wednesday, February 6 at 7:00pm.
Emerson Wins Fourth Straight Beating Mount Ida, 83-61
Game BoxscoreA jump shot by Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) five and a half minutes into the game gave Emerson College a 12-11 lead over Mount Ida College and the Lions (10-9, 5-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) went on to defeat the Mustangs (5-14, 2-5 GNAC) 83-61.
The Lions never saw their lead dip lower than 10 points in the second half. Emerson was led in scoring by Kathy Andrade ( FY., Hull, Mass.) with 22 points and she pulled down seven rebounds. Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) dropped in 18 points and added four assists and four steals, and Papa had 19 points.
The victory for the Lions was their fourth straight and places the team in a fourth place tie in the GNAC. Emerson hosts St. Joseph’s College on Saturday, February 2 at 2:00pm in a key GNAC match-up. St. Joseph is currently tied for second place in the Conference, one game ahead of the Lions.
Lions Spoil Simmons 25th Anniversary, 57-49
from Simmons College Sports Information - 1/26/08Game Boxscore
The Simmons College basketball team had plenty of support in the stands on Saturday as the Sharks celebrated it’s 25th anniversary as a varsity program and plenty of alumni were back to commemorate the event. But the visiting Lions of Emerson spoiled the party, with strong defense and timely shooting to take a 57-49 win.
The Sharks jumped out early playing on adrenaline and took an early 10-2 lead, but Emerson clawed back as the half wore on and trailed by just one at the break 24-23.
In the second half. Emerson’s Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) came off the bench to bury a pair of crucial three’s and give the Lions a six point cushion.
Defensively the Lions clamped down allowing Simmons to shoot just 25 percent for the second half.
Emerson's Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass.) led all scorers with 17 points, and she grabbed 10 rebounds. Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) chipped in with 13 points and nine rebounds.
For Simmons Lauren Kreckie had a big day with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore Stephanie Fox had 12 points and 18 rebounds.
Emerson's next game is Thursday at Mount Ida College in a 6:00pm tip off.
Lions Run Away From Eagles, 76-44
Game BoxscoreNASHUA, N.H. (1/23/08) - Emerson College (8-9, 3-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) went on a 29-3 run spanning halftime and went on to cruise past Daniel Webster College (9-6, 2-3 GNAC) 76-44 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action.Emerson scored the game's first eight points, but the Eagles climbed back to within two points at 13-11. Two layups by Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) took the Lions' lead back to six , but Daniel Webster's Erin Moseley scored six points and Nicole Conley hit a three to give the Eagles their only lead of the night at 20-19.
A traditional three point play by Vassallo started the Lions' run which encompassed the final six minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second.
Emerson's Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass., left) led the Lions with 16 points and had eight rebounds. Lindsay Destefano (Sr., Gloucester, R.I.) scored 15 for Emerson and hit four of eight three-point shots. Vassallo with a dozen points and nine rebounds and Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) with 10 points rounded out Emerson's double figure scorers.
Moseley lead all players with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Emerson's next game is Saturday at Simmons College, at 1:00pm.
Emerson Takes Holiday Win over Lasell, 65-42
Boston, Mass. (1/21/08) - Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Gloucester, R.I., left) led a balanced attack and all but one Emerson College player scored in the game as Emerson (7-9. 2-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) defeated Lasell College (4-11, 2-2 GNAC) 65-42 in a Martin Luther King, Jr., Day matinee.
DeStefano dropped in 12 points and snagged four rebounds in the victory. Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 points, five assists and four steals, while Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) tallied 10 points. Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) scored 9 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) had eight points.
Emerson shot 44% from the field in building a 31-16 first half lead while holding the Lasers to 29% shooting. The Lions had only 11 turnovers in the game, while forcing Lasell into 22. Emerson also held a 40-38 rebounding edge.
Shauna Kelly led the Lasers with 15 points. Lavina Currie snared a game-high 10 rebounds.
Emerson next makes the trip to Nashua, N.H., Wednesday evening January 23 for a game at at 7:00pm.
Johnson & Wales Women’s Basketball Upends Emerson, 75-52
From Johnson & Wales University Sports Information - 1/19/08
Providence, R.I. – Johanna Santosuosso scored a career high 28 points and added five assists and four steals to lead the Johnson & Wales University women’s basketball team to a 75-52 victory against Emerson in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest at the Harborside Recreation Center on Saturday afternoon. The win was the third straight for the Wildcats
Junior Maria Valetta notched 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds while senior Nicole Laferriere added 10 points and seven boards in the victory for JWU.
Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) narrowly missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds while Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) added 11 points, six rebounds and three assists in the setback for the Lions.
Emerson jumped out to an early lead and held an 11-4 advantage after a three pointer by Kosek with 16:15 remaining in the first half. Johnson & Wales responded with a 9-2 run and knotted the game at 13:13 midway through the first half. The two teams then traded leads before the Wildcats closed the half on a 17-6 run to take the 40-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The visiting Lions would get as close as 13 points midway through the second half when a layup by Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Gloucester, R.I.) made the score 55-42 with 9:27 left in the game. That would be as close as the Lions would get, however as the Wildcats led by as many as 25 late in the game before taking the 75-52 victory. JWU forced 26 turnovers and held Emerson to just 28.8% shooting from the field for the contest.
With the win JWU improves to 5-9 on the season and 3-0 in the GNAC while Emerson falls to 6-9 overall, 1-2 in league play. The Wildcats will return to action on Monday, January 21st when they travel to Mount Ida for a GNAC contest, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Lyons Down Lions in OT, 71-68
BOSTON, MASS. (1/17/08) – Jess Olson ‘s three-point shot with 31 seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime as Mount Holyoke (3-10) outscored Emerson (6-8) 12-9 in the extra session to take the non-conference victory 71-68.
A free throw by Kate Shafir gave the Lyons a 60-59 lead in the overtime stanza, but two free throws by Emerson’s Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn., left) gave the lead back to the Lions. After a missed Shafir jumper, Vassallo dropped in a layup and connected on the ensuing free throw to give Emerson a 64-60 advantage.
Olsen drilled another three-pointer to bring Mount Holyoke within a point. Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) drove the lane for a layup to give Emerson a 66-63 lead, but Olson again nailed a three to tie the score. Two foul shots by Olson and another by Erin Cain gave the Lyons a three point lead. Vassallo scored on a layup with two seconds remaining to bring Emerson to within one, but Katie Austen dropped two free throws to end the scoring.
The game was close throughout with Emerson twice holding a seven point first half lead before entering the break with 34-29 advantage. The Lions extended the lead to nine on three different second half occasions, the last being 48-39 with 12:42 remaining. A 12-2 run over the next 8:35 gave Mount Holyoke a 51-50 lead. Emerson again pulled ahead by five with 1:31 remaining in regulation, but an Olson layup followed by her three-point shot forged the tie.
Olson had a double-double for the Lyons with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Amber Sinicrope with 14 and Marissa Barone with 15 were also in double figures. Vassallo had a double-double of her own for the Lions with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass.) had 12 points, and Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I.) chipped in 11 in a losing cause.
Emerson’s next game is Saturday at 1:00pm at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.
Lions Go To OT To Trim Raiders, 79-69
Boston, Mass. (1/15/08) – Rivier’s Justine Nims hit three free throws with 1.2 seconds left to force overtime, but Emerson College (6-7, 1-1 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) scored the first eight points of the extra session and went on to defeat Rivier 95-8, 0-2 GNAC) 79-69 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match-up.
Emerson led 57-48 with 7:09 remaining in regulation after a layup by Kathy Andrade (FY., Hull, Mass.). Rivier continued to chip away and narrowed the gap to one point on two Sadie Hardiman free throws with 1:33 left in the second half. Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.), and Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y., pictured) each hit the front end of a two shot foul to give the Lions a 65-62 lead, but Nims calmly drilled her free throws to force the tie.
After trailing 3-0, Rivier ran out to a 15-5 lead to begin the game, but Emerson was able to bounce back on the long range shooting of Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I.). Destefano’s three point shot with 3:31 left in the half gave the Lions only their second lead of the game at 29-27. An Andrade layup moved the Emerson lead to 31-27 at the half.
Emerson had four players in double figures lead by Andrade’s 17. Kosek added 15 with six assists, DeStefano 14, and Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) had 13. Blair Carpenter had a double-double for the Raiders with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Nims had 10 points and Hardiman snared 11 rebounds.
Emerson next hosts Mount Holyoke College at 7:00pm on Thursday, January 17.
Norwich Defeats Emerson in GNAC Opener, 68-54
from Norwich University Sports Information, 1/12/08
NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Christine Daniels notched her first career double-double, scoring a career-high 20 points and ripping down a career-best 17 rebounds, to lead the Norwich women’s basketball team to a 68-54 victory over Emerson on Saturday afternoon at Andrews Hall in the GNAC opener for both schools.
Erica Rate added 19 points for the Cadets, who improve to 2-10 (1-0 GNAC). Ally Daniels chipped in six points and 10 rebounds for the NU, while Natalie Marchese contributed seven points and a game-high six assists off the bench. Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass.) scored a team-high 16 points for Emerson (5-7, 0-1 GNAC), while Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) and Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) each added 10 points for the Lions.
Norwich broke open a close game with a 13-0 run during a six-minute stretch late in the second half to pull away from Emerson. The spurt turned a 53-50 Norwich lead at the 8:17 mark into a 66-50 NU edge with 2:49 to play, and the Cadets cruised from there.
Norwich led 38-27 at halftime, but Emerson chipped away at the lead and eventually pulled to within 53-50, before the Cadets pulled away.
Norwich got off to an 8-4 lead at the 17:22 mark, but Emerson used a 9-6 spurt over the next three minutes to trim NU’s lead to 14-13 with 14:24 to play in the opening half. A 9-0 burst by the Cadets during a two-minute span gave them a 23-13 advantage at the 12:25 mark.
Emerson reeled off six straight points to pull to within 23-19 just two minutes later, but Norwich held the Lions at bay over the remainder of the half, building a 37-28 halftime lead.
Daniels led the Cadets in the first half with 12 points and nine rebounds. Rate and Jess Jaggars each chipped in six points apiece in the opening stanza as eight different Norwich players got in the scoring column.
The Norwich defense held Emerson to just 31.9 percent shooting from the field. Norwich shot 38.6 percent from the floor. The Cadets held a commanding edge at the free throw line, where NU made 20-of-23 attempts compared to just 5-of-8 for the Lions.
Lions Win Battle of the Big Cats, Down Leopards 59-49
BOSTON, MASS. - Emerson College (5-6) went on a 12-2 run midway through the second half to break open a tight game and held on to defeat Wentworth (7-4) 59-49 in a non-conference contest at Emerson. The run was keyed by a pair of Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) three point shots.
Neither team could take control of the first half as there were five ties and five lead changes. Wentworth pulled ahead 26-25 with 51 seconds remaining in the half on a layup by Meaghan Gardner, but a Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass., left) free throw and a three point shot with six seconds remaining by Alleigh Marre (So., Ballston Spa, N.Y.) lifted the Lions to a 29-26 halftime advantage.
Wentworth twice narrowed the margin to one point in the second half. Kirsten Vallone hit a layup for the first points of the second stanza, and a free throw by Vallone made the score 32-31 with 16:48 remaining. Emerson answered with two free throws and a layup by Bri Papa (So., Camillus, N.Y.) and a traditional three-point play by Becky Everett (Sr., Orange, Mass.) swelled the Lions' lead to eight points. A jumper by Margo Ward and two Jessie Coffey free throws made the score 39-35. A jumper by Emerson's Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) and a layup by Coffey set the stage for the Lions' run.
Papa led Emerson with 15 points and gathered in eight rebounds. Andrade had a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.
Vallone had a double-double for Wentworth with 11 points and a dozen caroms. Gardner also added 11 points, with Emily Cring scoring a game-high 18.
Emerson's next game is Saturday, January 12 at Norwich University at 1:00.
Fitchburg Defense Drops Emerson, 63-49
BOSTON, MASS. - Fitchburg State College (6-3) held Emerson College (4-6) to under 22% shooting in the first half to build a 10 point lead at the break and cruised to a 63-49 victory in a non-conference contest. After opening a 17-12 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half, Emerson was scoreless for the next 5:48 as Fitchburg went on a 12-0 run and closed out the half outscoring the Lions 16-1.
In addition to the poor shooting, the Lions had 18 turnovers in the half on their way to 29 for the game. It took Emerson nearly three and a half minutes to score in the second half before Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) hit a layup to get Emerson back on the board. Two free throws by Okrah brought Emerson to within nine points with 16:27 left in the game, but that was as close as the Lions would come.
A layup by Stephanie Payette gave Fitchburg its largest margin of the game with 8:07 remaining as the Falcons increased their lead to 59-38. Emerson crept back to within 13 with 2:43 left on the clock on an Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) jumper, but the Lions were unable to score on three consecutive trips.
Fitchburg got a double-double from Payette with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Diana Doyle was the Falcons' leading scorer with 14, while Michelle Ridge pitched in 12.
For Emerson Okrah and Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) each had a double-double with Okrah scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 caroms, and Vassallo pulling down 18 boards and scoring a dozen points.
Emerson plays Wentworth Institute of Technology at home in its next game on Thursday, January 10 at 7:00pm.
Lions Devour Lynx to take Wheaton Tourney Consolation, 65-45
from Wheaton College Sports Information, 1/4/08
During a back-and-forth first half in the consolation game of the Wheaton College New Year's Tournament, one in which the teams exchanged the lead 13 times and played to 10 ties, Emerson and Lesley combined for 18 field goals and 18 free throws. Consecutive hoops by sophomore Hailee Lowe sparked a 6-0 Lesley run that put the Lynx up, 11-6 at 13:17 of the first half, but Bri Papa (Jr., Camillus, NY) rallied Emerson by scoring all eight of her team's points during an 8-2 run that put the Lions back on top, 14-13 with 9:42 to play. Emerson led by as many as four on Papa's third three-pointer with 1:46 left, and the Lions entered the locker room with a 30-27 edge. Papa had a game-high 13 points at intermission, while Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, CT, left) had nine points and 10 rebounds. Lowe tallied 10 points for Lesley, which had 11 free throws and eight field goals while holding a 16-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
Emerson scored the first 16 points of the second half, with six coming from Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, MA), as Lesley missed its first 10 shots and had committed eight turnovers by the time they scored their first points on a Lowe bucket at 11:33. The Lions eventually led by as many as 21 points in the waning seconds after leading by at least 14 for the final 14:08 of regulation. The teams combined for 40 second-half turnovers and 62 for the game, and the Lynx outscored Emerson, 24-15 off turnovers.
Vassallo, who was named to the all-tournament team, finished with her second double-double in as many nights with 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting and 11 rebounds. Papa added 15 points and eight rebounds, and Okrah had 10 points and seven boards. Lowe notched 12 points, five rebounds and three steals for Lesley while being selected for the all-tournament squad.
Emerson next hosts Fitchburg State College on January 8 at 6:00pm.
Trinity Edges Emerson in Wheaton Tournament, 74-69
from Wheaton College Sports information - 1/3/08
Trinity never trailed in the second game of the evening in the Wheaton College New Year's Tournament and went on to a 74-69 victory over Emerson narrowly pulling away at the end of regulation. After the second tie of the opening stanza, 9-9 with less than 14 minutes left, the Bantams scored 14 of the game's next 16 points to earn their largest edge of the period, 23-11 at 9:45. Six different players contributed baskets during the run. Emerson trimmed its deficit to 33-30 with a little more than a minute left in the half, but its 20th turnover of the period gave the ball back to Trinity, which tallied the final five points.
The Bantams knocked down the first two baskets of the second stanza to go up by 12, and after the Lions made it 46-39 at 16:05, Trinity maintained a double-digit lead for much of the remainder of the contest until late. Emerson twice hit baskets during the final 2:18 to make it a five-point game, and Lindsay DeStefano's (Sr., Glocester, RI) step-back three brought her team within 70-67 with 48 seconds left. DeStefano later picked off an inbounds pass, and her team went to the line with a chance to cut into its three-point deficit, but the Lions missed two free throw tries before the Bantams scored on a breakaway.
Sophomore Claire Arnstein notched 14 points, seven assists and six steals to lead Trinity, while classmate Kristen Liska had 11 points. Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, CT) recorded a double-double for Emerson with 10 points and 13 rebounds, DeStefano had a game-high 16 points, and Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, MA) tallied 14 points and six assists.
Tomorrow's action begins with the consolation game at 5:30 p.m. between Emerson and Lesley.
Lions Turnover Win to Endicott, 72-55
from Endicott College Sports Information - 12/12/07
BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott College scored 28 points off 24 Emerson turnovers, as the Gulls defeated the Lions, 72-55, on Wednesday evening in a non- conference match-up at the MacDonald Gymnasium in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Endicott began the game on a 10-0 run, capped off by a 3-pointer from junior guard Nicole Duchesne to put the Gulls up big early on. The Blue and Green would extend their lead to as many as 20 points in the opening half, as sophomore Kaylin Burke dialed in from behind the arc to put the Gulls up, 39-19, with just 35-seconds remaining in the opening frame. Endicott would enter the dressing room with a comfortable 18 point halftime lead.
The Gulls kept the pressure on in the second stanza as Sarah Doherty turned a Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) turnover into two-points, extending the home team’s advantage to 24. Moment’s later, Endicott grabbed its largest lead of the game as Kaylin Burke struck again from behind the arc, putting the Gulls ahead 56-27 with 11:44 remaining.
Emerson did its best to hang around late in the second half as the Lions built a 9-1 run to cut the deficit down to 20. A 3-ball by Kelly Kwiecinski (Sr., Easthampton, Mass.) followed by successful jumpers from Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) and a wild deflection from Andrea Kosek (So., Latham, N.Y.) gave the visitors hope. However the Endicott lead proved to be too much, and late field goals by Rachel Hewes and Ashley Vitale sealed the win for Endicott.
The Gulls were led by a game-high 22 points from Nicole Duchesne. Ceciley Chisholm notched a double-double as she scored 15 points and grabbed a 10 rebounds in the win. Paris Sanders played strong defense as she had nine rebounds and four blocks for the Gulls.
Emerson was led by Kathy Andrade’s (FY., Hull, Mass.) 13 points and 10 rebounds. Vassallo also earned a double-double, scoring 12 points and hauling in 11 rebounds in the losing effort.
Emerson returns to action on Thursday January 3, 2008 against Trinity College in the Wheaton College Tournament. Tip-off is at 8:00pm.
Engineers Drop Lions, 48-44
BOSTON, MASS. - Caitlin Macko hit a free throw with two seconds remaining to seal a 48-44 victory for WPI (2-4) over Emerson College (3-3) in a non-conference contest. The Engineers had seen a seven-point lead evaporate to 47-44 on a layup by Kathy Andrade (FY, Hull, Mass., left) with nine seconds remaining,
The game was close throughout with WPI holding a 20-19 halftime edge. The game was tied eight times in the first half, but the last lead Emerson could forge was 8-6.
The Lions took a 21-20 lead to begin the second half on a lay-up by Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.). WPI then scored the next six points on a jumper by Macko, a lay-up by Brittany McNally , and a lay-up by Rachel Salvatori. The Lions again pulled to within a single point with 11:17 remaining on a lay-up by Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I.), but WPI scored the game's next nine points for a lead the Engineers would not relinquish.
The game was sloppy throughout with each team committing 21 turnovers. WPI shot 34% from the field for the game while Emerson shot only 30%. Neither team made a three-point shot on 17 combined attempts.
Kaileen Selen was the leading scorer for WPI with 12 points with Macko adding 10. Vassallo netted 13 for Emerson. Andrade also reached double figures with 10.
Emerson will play at Endicott at 7:00pm Wednesday.
Vassallo Leads Emerson Women's Basketball Over UMASS Boston, 63-59
From UMass Boston Sports Information - 12/4/07
BOSTON, MA – Center Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn., left) netted 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the visiting Emerson College women’s basketball team over host University of Massachusetts Boston, 63-59, tonight at the Clark Athletic Center on the UMass Boston campus. The Beacons fall to 2-3 on the season, while the Lions improve to 3-2.
UMass Boston owned a 59-56 lead with 2:05 left to play in the game before guard Kathy Andrade (FY., Hull, Mass.) converted a pair of free throws with 1:53 showing to pull Emerson within 59-58. Vassallo would follow her teammate’s lead with a pair of successful free throws of her own, coming with 47 seconds remaining in the game to give the Lions a 60-59 edge. Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) made a lay-up with 27 seconds left for Emerson and Bri Papa (Jr., Camilus, N.Y.) made a free throw to complete a 7-0 run to close out the game for the Lions.
The Beacons looked to be in control, early in the first half, when they raced out to a 15-2 advantage with 14:48 on the first half clock, paced by seven points from freshman point guard Stephanie Vasquez and a pair of three-pointers from sophomore guard Caroline Ashe, but Emerson responded right away. Papa scored seven points as the Lions came roaring back with a 21-5 run to take a 23-20 lead with 7:29 to go in the opening half. Emerson maintained its lead throughout the remainder of the half and took a 29-26 margin into the intermission after holding UMass Boston to just 27.8% (10-36) shooting from the field for the half.
The Beacons wouldn’t go away in the first eight minutes of the second half and took a 41-39 lead on a jumper by senior guard LaKeisha Tucker at 11:49 of the second stanza. The Lions later reclaimed the lead at 43-41 with 10:34 left in the game, but UMass Boston scored 10 unanswered points to take a 51-43 advantage with 7:34 to play in the second half. The Beacons held onto a 55-47 lead with 5:40 to go in the contest, before Emerson closed out the game on a 16-4 burst.
Vassallo finished the night shooting 6-10 from the field and added a steal, a block and an assist for the Lions, while Papa scored 15 points to go with three steals, an assist and a rebound. Okrah chipped in with 10 points, two rebounds and three steals.
Emerson hosts WPI on December 8 at 2:00 pm.
Wellesley College Basketball Downs Emerson, 50-48
From Wellesley College Sports Information - 12/1/07
WELLESLEY, MASS. – Wellesley College junior Jessica Duff recorded her third double-double of the season, as the Blue downed Emerson College 50-48 on Saturday afternoon in Wellesley.
In the first half, Wellesley took a 6-3 lead at the 18-minute mark off of three points each from Duff and Courtney Richter. A defensive battle, neither team managed a point over the next seven minutes until Wellesley’s Nicole Labbee hit a free throw to push the Blue lead to 7-3.
With six minutes to play, Emerson’s Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.)converted a three-point play to tie the game at 13-13. Vassallo’s three points sparked a 10-0 run for the Lions as Emerson went ahead 20-13 with just over two minutes to play in the first half.
With 1:46 left in the half, Wellesley’s Courtney Pelley hit a three-pointer followed by a lay-up to even the score at 20-20. However, the Lions scored the next two baskets to take a 24-20 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, the Blue took a 29-28 lead when Richter hit a three with 17:10 left in the game. The Lions went back on top 30-29 when Becky Everett (Sr., Orange, Mass.) picked up two points. After Everett’s basket, Wellesley scored nine unanswered points over the next five minutes to take a 38-30 lead with 12 minutes to play.
The Lions put together a run of their own and with eight minutes to play, a Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, RI) lay-up cut the Wellesley lead to 42-41. DeStefano followed it up with a three-pointer that gave Emerson a 44-42 lead with 5:48 on the clock.
Down 48-46 with just over a minute to play, Wellesley’s Katie Martore got the Blue one point closer after hitting a free-throw. On the next possession, Wellesley forced an Emerson turnover to regain control of the ball with 52 seconds left in the game. With Wellesley in control, Martore got the ball inside to Julia Thomas who was fouled and converted both free throws to give the Blue a 49-48 lead with 32 seconds left in the game.
Following another Emerson turnover, the Lions were forced to foul. Martore once again hit one of two shots and Wellesley took a 50-48 lead with nine-seconds left to play. After the Lions missed a three-pointer with five seconds on the clock, a Wellesley foul on the in-bounds play gave Emerson one last chance. However, the Lions were unable to hit a last-ditch jumper and Wellesley got the 50-48 win.
For Emerson, Vassallo recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 boards. DeStefano and Bri Papa (So., Camilus, NY) each chipped in with 10 points while Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, MA) amassed 14 rebounds.
The Lions (2-2) are back in action on Tuesday with a 5:30 start at UMass-Boston.For game box scores click on the blue highlighted score in the title.
Emerson Defeats MIT in Women's Basketball, 54-43
(From MIT Sports Information - 11/29/07)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In its first game after a 12-day hiatus, Emerson College emerged with a 54-43 victory over MIT in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Thursday. With the win, the Lions improved to 2-1 on the year while the Engineers fell to 1-3.
The early stages of the game were a back-and-forth affair as Emerson crept out to a 9-6 advantage after five minutes elapsed. Back-to-back three-pointers by Clara Yuan and Alice Yeh put MIT ahead, 12-9, at the 12:01 mark. The Lions countered with 10 straight points during the next three minutes to reclaim the lead for good. A three-point play by Yeh ended the run and narrowed the gap to four (19-15). Emerson responded by tallying 12 out of the next 15 points to establish its largest lead of the half (31-18) with 4:49 on the clock. The Engineers closed out the frame with an 8-2 run that resulted in a 33-26 deficit at the break.
Yeh continued to power MIT’s offense in the second stanza as she posted five points during the first 41 seconds. Baskets by Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn., above left), Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I.), and Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) helped maintain Emerson’s edge as it led, 39-31, at 18:21. The next 12 minutes became a defensive battle as both sides combined for 10 points. A jumper by Alleigh Marre (So., Ballston Spa. N.Y. ) sparked a 9-0 run by the Lions as they extended their lead to 17 (54-37) with 4:13 on the clock. MIT held Emerson scoreless for the rest of the game as a lay-up from Sally Simpson and a pair of baskets by Kelsey Cappelle closed out the scoring for the Cardinal and Gray.
Emerson’s DeStefano finished with 12 points, four assists, and two blocks as Vassallo amassed 12 rebounds, eight points and three steals. Okrah chipped in 10 points.
Saturday, Dec. 1, Emerson will make the trip to Wellesley College for a 1:00pm start.
Lions Rebound to take Consolation, 73-58
(From UMaine Farmington Sports Information 11/18/07)
Trailing by a point at intermission, Emerson College opened the second half with a 17-5 run to take control of the consolation game of the UMaine Farmington Tip-Off Tournament and roll to a win over the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions evened their record at 1-1, while the Owls dropped to 0-2.
Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.) tallied 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the win, while Maude Okrah (Jr., Rutland, Mass.) pitched in 18 points. All-tournament team selection Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y., left) added 15 points.
UMPI took a 35-34 lead into intermission by the hot hand of Megan Korhonen and the inside play of Erica Davis (Cumberland, ME). Korhonen scored 16 of her game-high 24 points in the opening half with five 3-pointers. Davis also scored 11 of her 19 points in the opening frame.
Lions Drop Season opener to #17 USM, 65-79
(From UMaine Farmington Sports Information 11/18/07)
The University of Southern Maine, ranked 17th nationally in Division III, rode the double-figure scoring of Stacy Kent, Nicole Paradis and Josalee Danieli to take a 79-65 victory over Emerson College in the first round of the UMaine Farmington tip-Off Tournament. Kent scored 16 points. Paradis threw in 14 points, including a 3-for-3 performance from behind the arc in the win while Danieli also got into double figures with 11 points for the Huskies.
Lindsay DeStefano (Sr., Glocester, R.I., left) paced Emerson with 17 points with Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) adding 16 points.
2006-2007
Okrah, Hart Earn GNAC Accolades
Boston, Mass., 2/21/07 - Emerson College women's basketball player Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass., left) and head coach Melissa Hart (right) have each been honored on the recently released Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's basketball All-Conference team. Okrah, a guard, was a second team selection based on voting from the conference women's basketball coaches, and Hart was named the Conference Coach of the Year by her peers.
Okrah was Emerson's leading scorer at 10.7 points per game. She shot just under 49% from the field during the year and averaged 4.6 rebounds. One of the top defenders in the Conference, Okrah had 41 steals and five blocks. She also dished out 24 assists.
Hart was named Coach of the Year after guiding Emerson to a program best 16-10 record and fifth place in the final conference standings. The Lions won six more games in 2006-2007 than in the previous year. Hart took the program over in the 2003-2004 season. On a team that had only eight women, the record that first year was 3-21, 2-10 in the GNAC, and the team did not qualify for the Conference tournament. The following year the Lions earned an 11-14 record, were 4-8 in Conference play and earned the seventh seed in the tournament.
Playing a more difficult non-conference schedule in 2005-2006 the team won 10 games against 16 losses and was 5-7 in the GNAC, earning the eighth and final seed in the tournament. The 2006-2007 team numbered 15 women, and had a GNAC Record of 7-4.
This is Hart's second Coach of the Year honor. While coaching at MIT before coming to Emerson, Hart was named the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2003 when she led the Engineers to the Eastern College Athletic Conference New England Division III Championship Game.
Golden Bears Rally to Down Lions
(From Western New England College Sports Information)
Springfield, Mass., 2/20/07 – Junior guard Jen Dabrowski scored a game high 18 points, including the 1000th of her career as fourth-seeded Western New England College (15-11) overcame a slow start to defeat fifth-seeded Emerson College (16-10) 57-49 in a quarterfinal round game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament.
Emerson jumped to an early 11-2 lead and maintained its control in taking a 24-18 lead at half-time.
The Golden Bears started the second half on a strong note taking their first lead of the game (28-26) when Dabrowski hit a jumper for her 1000th point with 14:41 remaining in the game. She hit another jumper to give the hosts a 43-36 advantage at the 6:15 mark. Western New England College took its biggest lead at 49-40 when junior guard Tiffany DeRosa drained a three-pointer with 4:03 left in the contest.
That was the final basket for the home team who made eight free throws in the final 1:18 to seal the victory.
The Lions had three players scoring in double figures led by guard Kelly Kwiecinski (Jr., Easthampton, Mass., above left) who netted 14 points coming off the bench. Forward Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn.) contributed 11 points and seven rebounds while sophomore guard Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) had a double-double with 10 points and rebounds.
Lions Tame Nighthawks
(From Newbury College Sports Information)
Brookline, Mass., 2/17/07 - Emerson College (16-9) completed its regular season in impressive fashion with a victory over host Newbury College (0-24) by the score of 76-38. In a well balanced attack, eleven players got on the scoreboard led by the trio of Lauren Vassallo (Jr., Oxford, Conn.), Bri Papa (So., Camillus, N.Y.), and Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.). Vassallo was game high with 16, Papa had 15 and Okrah tossed in 14 on the afternoon.
Emerson Coasts to Win over Daniel Webster
Boston, Mass. 2/15/07 - Emerson College (15-9, 7-4 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) never trailed and had 11 of 12 players score in defeating Daniel Webster College (7-15, 1-9 GNAC) 61-43 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest.
Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I., left) led the Lions with 12 points, 10 coming in the first half when Emerson took a 36-14 lead. The lead stretched to 26 early in the second half as DeStefano hit a layup and Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) scored on a steal and layup for a 40-16 lead. Daniel Webster was never to pull any closer than 18 points for the remainder of the contest.
Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) was also in double figures for Emerson with 10 points. Erin Moseley had a double -double for the Eagles with 11 points and a dozen rebounds.
Emerson Rally Nips St. Joe's
Boston, Mass. 2/12/07 - Emerson College (14-9, 6-4 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) rallied from a 13 point second half deficit to defeat St. Joseph College (7-16, 3-6 GNAC) 50-48 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match-up.
A three-point shot by Keri Hallberg brought the Blue Jays to within two points, but Hallberg missed two free throws with seven seconds remaining to give the Lions the win.
St. Joseph's held a 27-18 lead at halftime and stretched the lead to 42-29 with 10:31 remaining. Emerson's Andrea Kosek ( FY, Latham, N.Y.) started the comeback with a jumper, then Vassallo followed with two free throws to narrow the lead to nine. Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) hit a three-point shot to cut the advantage to 42-36, and Kosek followed with a trifecta to bring the Lions within three.
Kendra Dowen slowed the run with two free throws, but Vassallo and Pam Coppola (Sr., Burlington, Mass.) hit layups to set up Vassallo's charity stripe heroics.
Vassallo led all scorers with 19 points. Dowen and Hallberg had 13 each for St. Joseph. Araya Koonce had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
WNEC Takes Key GNAC Victory Over Lions
(From Western New England College Sports Information - 2/10/07)
Springfield, Mass. –Western New England College’s (12-10, 6-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) Jen Dabrowski scored a season-high 32 points in a dramatic 56-54 victory over visiting Emerson College (13-9, 5-4 GNAC) in a key Great Northeast Athletic Conference Contest.
The victory was the seventh consecutive for the Golden Bears.
Pam Coppola (Sr., Burlington, Mass.), who came into the game averaging 4.7 points, led Emerson with 16 points (8-for-11 from the field), six rebounds, four blocks, four steals, and three assists in a sensational performance. Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) contributed 15 points and had two steals.
It was a hard-fought battle for both teams the entire game. Emerson (13-9, 5-4 GNAC) took a couple of early five-point leads before WNEC used an 11-0 run for a 20-14 advantage at the 8:47 mark of the opening stanza. The Golden Bears led by seven at 27-20 before the Lions ended the half with a 10-3 run to tie the contest at 30-30.
The visitors twice took four-point leads (the last at 36-32) early in the second half before WNEC went ahead 44-40 following a long three-pointer with 8:51 remaining in the game. The hosts had another four-point lead (48-44) when Dabrowski hit a jumper with 5:55 left.
WNEC clung to a pair of one-point leads down the stretch before taking a 56-51 edge after a pair of free throws by Dabrowski with 43.2 seconds remaining.
Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, CT) drained a three-pointer to bring the Lions with two with 15 seconds remaining.
The Golden Bears missed three free throws in the final 13 seconds, but Okrah couldn’t connect on an off-balance jumper just inside the three-point line at the buzzer to end the game.
Coppola Leads Lions over Rivier
Nashua, N.H. 2/8/07 - Pam Coppola (Sr., Burlington, Mass., left) scored 21 points and gathered in 11 rebounds to lead Emerson College (13-8, 5-3 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) to a 74-64 victory at Rivier College (14-8, 4-4 GNAC). Coppola hit nine of ten shots from the field and made three of four free throws.
Emerson held a 36-33 halftime advantage with 11 points coming from Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn.), and eight from Coppola. Rivier managed to stay close making 10 of 10 free throws in the half and five of 15 three-point shots.
The Raiders began the second half with another three-point barrage, hitting three in the first 2:44 of the half and adding two free throws for a 44-38 lead. Emerson fought back and pulled even on baskets by Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.), and Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.), and two free throws by Mallory Frers (Jr., Sharon, Mass.). A second basket by Okrah and a three-pointer by DeStefano moved Emerson into a 49-44 lead.
Emerson held the Raiders without a field goal for the next 8:29, although Rivier was able to stay in the game making 12 consecutive free throws. Rivier made a remarkable 26 straight from the charity stripe in the game before missing its final two.
In addition to Coppola's big night, Vassallo had 16 points and seven rebounds, and Okrah pitched in with 12 and six.
Okrah Named to GNAC Honor Roll
Emerson College 's Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) has been named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll for the week ending February 4. In two games for the Lions, Okrah averaged 16.5 points and six rebounds. Okrah shot 50% from the field and .692 from the line while dishing out three assists. She was Emerson's leading scorer in both games during the week as the Lions surpassed their 2005-2006 win total.
Falcons Fly to Victory over Lions
(from Fitchburg State College Sports Information)
Fitchburg, Mass. 2/6/07 – Fitchburg State College (19-1) opened the second half on a 16-3 run to defeat visiting Emerson College (12-8), 66-43, Tuesday night in non-conference women’s basketball action.
The Lions were paced by Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn., left) who had game scoring honors with15 points. Sophomore forward Steph Payette led the way for FSC, dropping in 14 points to go along with seven rebounds (three offensive), a block and a pair of steals. Junior forward Diana Doyle was the only other player in double digits, scoring 12 points.
Fitchburg shot 40 percent for the night while Emerson was limited to just 29 percent shooting and committed 25 turnovers. Both teams had 39 rebounds. The Falcons jumped out to 39-21 lead at the break and opened the second half on fire, scoring 13 of the first 14 points in the final 20 minutes of action.
Lions Survive Wildcat Attack
Boston, Mass., 2/3/07 – A jump shot by Emerson College’s Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn.) broke a 36-36 tie with 4:22 remaining in the game and Emerson held on for a 52-46 victory over Johnson & Wales University.
Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.) followed with a three point shot for the Lions, and Vassallo hit one of two foul shots to give Emerson a five point lead that would not shrink below four points for the remainder of the contest.
A sloppy first half resulted in a 16-16 tie with the teams shooting an identical 6-29 (.207) for the half. Emerson opened the second half by scoring the first nine points and eventually opened a 30-20 lead. The Wildcats answered with a 13-4 run to take a brief lead at 34-33. Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass., left) gave Emerson the lead with two free throws, and Vassallo added another before Samantha Cowens made a layup to forge the game’s seventh and final tie.
Okrah led all scorers with 18 points, with DeStefano adding 13 and Vassallo 12 for Emerson. Cowens had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats. Alexandra Ventura scored 10.
Rams Go Wire to Wire Against Lions
Boston, Mass. 1/31/07 - Suffolk University (11-7, 6-1 GNAC) scored the first point of the game on a free throw and never looked back as the Ram's defeated Emerson College (11-7, 3-3 GNAC) 63-51 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest at Suffolk.
The Rams held Emerson to 12 first half points in forging a 14 point lead at the break. The lead swelled to 49-30 with 10:23 remaining in the game. Emerson cut the deficit to nine points on three different occasions, but could pull no closer.
Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) led the Lions in scoring with 15. Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn.) and Alleigh Marre (FY, Ballston Spa, N.Y.) each added 10. Stephanie Zito took game scoring honors for the Rams with 24 points.
Balanced scoring attack leads Emerson over Gators
(From Pine Manor College Sports Information 1/27/07)
Chestnut Hill, Mass. - Emerson sophomore Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) led all scores with 15 points as the Lions defeated Pine Manor 67-46. Emerson used a balanced attack as every player scored in the game. The Lion's Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.)joined Okrah in double digits with 10 points.
Emerson was able to open up a 33-20 lead at half time in large part because of its shooting from beyond the three-point arc. The Lion's shot 50% from three-point territory in the first half, and 40% for the game. The Gators struggled from beyond the arc shooting 29.4 %.
Lions Second Half Rally Sinks Sharks
Boston, Mass 1/23/07 – Emerson College (10-6, 2-2 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) outscored Simmons College (6-9, 1-2 GNAC) 34-20 in the second half to take a 52-36 victory.
Emerson took a 7-5 lead with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half on a jump shot by Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.). The Lions stretched their lead to eight points with 6:15 left in the half on a Bri Papa (So., Camilus, N.Y.) layup. Following a Simmons free throw by Shaval Loungs to make the score 18-11, neither team scored for the next 4:04 until Kristine Lucas made a layup to pull the Sharks within five. Cassie Salkin converted a traditional three point play to pull Simmons to within two points at the half.
Sarah Clayton scored four straight points for Simmons to open the second half and give the Sharks a 20-18 lead. Emerson’s Alie Bernier (Jr., Dayville, Conn.) answered with a three-pointer to give Emerson an edge, but Lucas answered with a layup to give Simmons a 22-21 lead.
The team battled back and forth over the next two and a half minutes until Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn.) hit a layup to give Emerson a 28-26 lead with 13:17 remaining. From there it was all Lions as Emerson went on a 16-2 run to salt away the victory.
Okrah led Emerson with 13 points while Bernier added 11. Clayton had 12 for the Sharks, with Lucas pulling down 10 rebounds.
Norwich Uses Late Surge to Conquer Lions
Boston, Mass., 1/20/07 – Norwich University (14-1, 3-0 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) scored the final five points of the game to take a 51-46 decision over Emerson College (9-6, 1-2 GNAC). Two free throws by Monica Selander gave the Cadets a 48-46 lead with 1:54 remaining, and three more free throws led to the final score.
The game was close throughout with eight ties and four lead changes. Emerson led through the first half, and held a 26-25 halftime lead. The Lions twice had eight point leads in the first stanza.
In the second half Emerson led until the 6:42 mark when Caitlin Bailey hit a layup to give the Cadets a 43-42 lead. A free throw by Kristi Powlovich increased the lead to a pair. Emerson’s
Bailey had a double-double for Norwich with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Powlovich also had 11 points for the Cadets. Emerson was led by Vassallo’s 13 points, while
Saints March Over Lions in GNAC Tilt
Boston, Mass. 1/17/07 – Emmanuel College (11-1, 1-0 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) had four players in double figures as the Saints cruised to a 68-57 victory over Emerson College (9-5, 1-1, GNAC) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action.
Emmanuel took command early, jumping out to a 12-2 lead on a jump shot by Brittany Bushman five minutes into the game. Emerson scored the next five points, but Emmanuel responded with a 16-7 run to increase the lead to 29-14.
Emerson Crawled back to within five points on a Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.) layup but Emmanuel again answered with a 10-2 run over the final two minutes of the half for a 39-27 halftime lead.
The lead increased to 62-37 midway through the second half. Emerson cut the margin to nine points on a free throw by Alleigh Marre (FY, Ballston Spa, N.Y., left) with 2:29 remaining, but Tommia Davis answered with a jump shot with 2:16 remaining for the final points of the game.
Marre was the leading scorer for Emerson with 12 points, and Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn.) had 11 for the Lions.
Lions Ground Falcons in GNAC Opener
New Haven, Conn., 1/15/07 – Emerson College (9-4, 1-0 Great Northeast Athletic Conference) used a strong defensive performance to defeat Albertus Magnus College (2-9, 1-1 GNAC) 64-50 in the Conference opener for the Lions.
Emerson scored the first 10 points of the second half to put the game away. The lead stretched to 21 points with 8:15 remaining.Despite allowing the Falcons to shoot 42% from the field in the first half, the Lions forced Albertus Magnus into 13 turnovers in building an 11 point lead. A three-point buzzer beater gave brought the Falcons to within 32-24 at the break.
Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) led the Lions with 14 points while Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.) chipped in 10. Ten different players scored in the game for the Lions.
Lions Use Strong Second Half to Climb Over Mountaineers
Bennington, Vt., 1/13/07 -Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, Conn.) scored 16 points and grabbed a game high nine rebounds to lead Emerson College (8-4) to a 53-37 non-conference victory over Southern Vermont College (1-12). The Lions also got 10 points from Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) and had nine different players get into the scoring column.
Emerson led by only two at the half, but held the Mountaineers to only only 13 points in the second stanza. The Lions' defense limited Southern Vermont to 3-of-24 shooting from the floor in the final period. Emerson hit 12-of-23 from the line, while the Mountaineers went to the line only 13 times, hitting nine. Jalessa Marshall provided the majority of Southern Vermont’s offense with 16 points while Markeisha Mullen had 10.
Lions Defeat Leopards in Battle of Big Cats
Boston, Mass. 1/11/07 - Emerson College (7-4) limited Wentworth (5-5) to 24% shooting from the field to take a non-conference match-up by a score of 54-48. The Leopards shot .167 from the three point line and made only 16 of 30 free throws (.533).
The game was close throughout the first half with Emerson clinging to a 18-17 lead. Despite its poor shooting, Wentworth played strong defensively, forcing 12 turnovers and out-rebounding the Lions 26-22 in the half.
Emerson scored the first six points of the second half to open up some breathing room and stretched the lead to eleven points on a layup by Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.) with just under 15 minutes remaining. The Loins stretched the lead to 42-29 with 6:01 remaining in the contest on a free throw by Alie Bernier (Jr., Dayville, Conn.).
Wentworth whittled away at the lead and grew as close as five points (53-48) on two free throws by Cheyenne Noble with 17 seconds remaining. A free throw by Bernier sealed the game for the Lions.
Bernier and Pam Coppola (Sr., Burlington, Mass.) led Emerson with 10 points each. Noble was the high scorer for Wentworth with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Noble became Wentworth's all-time rebounding leader with her effort amassing a career total of 1,034.
Lions Escape Ospreys' Talons
Boston, Mass. 1/6/07 - Emerson College (6-4) saw a 23 point half time lead dwindle to one point , but never gave up the lead and defeated Richard Stockton College (4-7) 58-53.
Emerson captain Pam Coppola (Sr., Burlington, Mass., left) took over the game in the last four minutes scoring her only three baskets of the contest after the Ospreys cut the lead to 48-47 on a three point shot by Jenna Shenk. Coppola scored on the ensuing possession to give the Lions a three point lead, and had a steal and layup to move the cushion to 52-47.
After Shenk hit another trifecta, Emerson's Ellie Feitlinger(Jr., Madison, Wisc.) followed an offensive rebound with a layup. Shenk countered with a layup of her own to get the Ospreys back within two. Coppola then scored on an assist from Alie Bernier (Jr., Dayville, Conn.) to give the Lions a 56-52 lead. Jenn Russell hit a free throw with 1:04 remaining to pull Richard Stockton within three, but Feitlinger dropped in two free throws with 18 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Emerson enjoyed a 39-16 halftime lead on 52% shooting from the field. Richard Stockton scored the first eight points of the second half before Lauren Vassallo(So., Oxford, CT) got Emerson on the board at the 17:10 mark. The Osprey's full court pressure defense rattled Emerson into a dozen second half turnovers.
Shenk led all scorers with 23 points and Lisa Neira added 10 for the Ospreys. Feitlinger and Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.) with eight points each shared scoring honors for the Lions.
MHC Defeats Emerson in Non-Conference Play
From Mount Holyoke College Sports Information
South Hadley, Mass.1/4/07 – Senior guard Angela Astuccio paced Mount Holyoke with 15 points in Mount Holyoke College’s 61-52 non-conference victory over Emerson College. Mount Holyoke improved its record to 7-4 overall while Emerson dropped to an overall mark of 5-4.
The Lyons came out firing in the first half, jumping to a 9-0 lead before Emerson’s Ellie Feitlinger (Jr., Madison, Wisc.) ended the MHC run with just under fifteen minutes to go in the half. Mount Holyoke maintained control of the game, leading by an 11-point margin with 8:45 remaining. Emerson stayed within striking distance in part due to Bri Papa’s (So., Camillus, N.Y., left) three-point shot in the last second of the half, to bring Emerson within four points, 28-24.
Emerson continued its offensive strike in the second half, clawing to within a single point twice in the first four minutes. Mount Holyoke regained composure immediately when junior forward Marisa Barone sank a pair of free throws. Barone’s free throws ignited a 13-5 MHC run over the next five minutes, enabling the Lyons to take a double-digit lead with 11:35 left in regulation. MHC attained its largest lead of the night (13) on a jumper by Kate Shafirat the 7:08 mark, 52-39. Emerson fought to bring the score as close as six in the final minutes of the game, but ultimately could not overcome its deficit.
For Emerson, Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.) and Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) led the team with 11 points apiece. Feitlinger topped Emerson’s rebounding column with 10 boards. Emerson shot 31.0% from the floor, and finished 5-of-12 from behind the arc.
Okrah Named GNAC Player of the Week
Emerson College guard Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.) has been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the week ending December 17. In the Lions only game of the week, Okrah had 14 points on 6-10 shooting from the field and two of four free throws. She also pulled down five rebounds and added two steals. Emerson Coach Melissa Hart particularly lauded Okrah's defensive contribution in the 53-42 victory over Endicott College.
Okrah is the first Emerson College women's basketball player to ever be named the GNAC Player of the Week.
Lions Ground Gulls
Boston, Mass. 12/13/06 – Emerson College (5-3) outscored visiting Endicott College (5-4) 15-4 over the last 6:43 of the game to take a 53-42 victory. The game was close throughout and featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes before Alie Bernier (Jr., Dayville, Conn., left) hit two free throws to give Emerson a lead it would not relinquish.
Emerson led 24-22 at the end of the first half riding 11 points from Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass.). Okrah hit a jumper in the lane with only three ticks remaining to forge the lead. Rachel Hewes hit consecutive baskets to begin the second half for the Gulls, but Becky Everett (Jr., Orange, Mass.) tied the game, and the see-saw battle continued. Neither team was able to post more than a three point lead until Everett hit a jumper with 5:10 remaining to give the Lions a five point margin. The lead twice swelled to 10 points, with the Gulls unable to get closer than eight the remainder of the contest.
Okrah led the Lions with 14 points while Ellie Feitlinger (Jr., Madison, Wisc.) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Engineers Manufacture Win Over Lions
From WPI Sports Information
Worcester, Mass. 12/9/06 --- Meghan Pajonas posted game-highs of 15 points, nine rebounds and five steals to help lead host WPI (4-4) to a 50-36 non-conference victory over Emerson College (4-3) on Saturday afternoon.
Pajonas did a large amount of her damage in the first half as she tallied 10 points and seven boards while helping the Engineers take a 25-22 advantage into the locker room.
The second half featured large runs by both teams. WPI rattled off nine of the first 12 points to open up a 34-25 lead with 15:15 remaining. Emerson answered quickly with six straight points to slice the advantage to three at 34-31. The Engineers then did not allow a field goal for over 10 minutes while embarking on a 14-1 run to open up a 48-34 cushion with just over three minutes remaining.
Maude Okrah(So., Rutland, Mass.) paced Emerson with eight points while Lindsay DeStefano(Jr., Chepachet, R.I.) chipped in with seven. Ellie Feitlinger (Jr., Madison, Wisc.) and Okrah shared team-best rebounding honors for the Lions with six each.
Lions Douse Beacons
Boston, Mass.12/5/06 – Emerson College went on an 8-0 run over the final 1:35 of the first half to break open a tight game and cruised to a 65-50 victory over UMass Boston. With the score 27-21, Emerson got a three-point shot from Alleigh Marre (FY., Ballston Spa, N.Y.) followed by a traditional three-point play and a shot at the buzzer by Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, R.I.).
UMass Boston opened the game with a three-point shot by Kristen Reske. 
Maude Okrah (So., Rutland, Mass., left) answered with a layup and following a steal Lauren Vassallo (So, Oxford, Conn.) hit a jump shot to give Emerson the lead for good. The lead swelled to nine as Emerson converted its 12th straight point for a 12-3 lead.
Emerson ran the lead to 17 points on two free throws by Alie Bernier (Jr., Dayville, Conn.) with 7:33 remaining. A three-point shot by Reske pulled the Beacons to within 10 with 5:46 remaining, but Vassallo answered with a layup to put the game out of reach.
Okrah led the Lions with 19 points. Vassallo added 15 and DeStefano pitched in 11.
Lions Snare Gators
Boston, Mass, 12/03/06 — Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, RI) scored 14 points and Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, CT) added 11 to give Emerson College (3-2) a decisive 60-43 victory over Pine Manor College (1-6) in a non-conference contest.
DeStefano and Vassallo led a balanced attack that saw 13 different players score for the Lions.
Emerson opened up a 30-18 half-time lead, breaking the game open with a 9-0 run. DeStefano started the run with a 3-point shot, followed by two Vassallo layups.
Ellie Feitlinger (Jr., Madison, WI, left) ended the run with her only basket of the day.
Feitlinger had a big statistical day in other categories pulling in 11 rebounds, and adding four assists and three steals.
Pine Manor was led by Laura Cecil with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Angelica Comacho added 11 points for the Gators.
Lions Roar to Victory over Engineers
Boston, MA 11/30/06 — Emerson College (2-2) went on a 18-4 run over the final 4:02 in the game to break open a tight contest and cruise to victory over MIT (2-3).
A three-point shot from Clara Yuan pulled MIT to within 38-41 with 6:37 remaining, but Emerson scored the next five points and sealed the game by hitting 11 of 12 free throws down the stretch.
Emerson had a 26-21 half time lead thanks in a major part to Maude Okrah's (So., Rutland, MA, left) 10 points off the bench. Okrah finished with a game-high 15 points, with teammate Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, CT) adding 10 points and eight rebounds.
Yuan had 10 points to lead the Engineers.
Mustangs Run Over Lions
Boston, MA 11/21/06 — Adrienne Xenos scored 21 of her game-high 25 points in the second half as Mount Ida ran away from Emerson for a 67-54 victory in the first intercollegiate basketball game ever played on the Emerson campus.
Xenos hit seven of eight shots from the field in the final stanza as the Mustangs disappointed a large crowd of Emerson supporters on hand for the basketball opening of Lions new Piano Row Gymnasium.
The game was tight through the first four minutes of the second half with Mount Ida holding a 33-31 lead. Emerson did not score a field goal for the next eight minutes as the Mustang lead swelled to 18 points.
Emerson was able to cut the deficit to 12 with just under six minutes remaining, but a Lion turnover followed by two Xenos free throws on the ensuing possession put the game out of reach.
In addition to her 25 points, Xenos had a game-high 15 rebounds. Lindsay DeStefano (Jr., Chepachet, RI) led the Lions with 14 points, while Lauren Vassallo (So., Oxford, CT) added 13 points and eight rebounds.
DeStefano Named All-Tourney as Lions Cop 3rd at Rose City Classic
Emerson split a pair of games in the Rose City Classic, a tournament at Drew University in Madison, NJ. The Lions dropped the season opener to a strong Elmira (NY) College squad, never able to overcome a slow start. Emerson rallied with an impressive victory over Manhattanville College in the consolation game to even its record.
Lindsay DeStefano (Junior, Chepachet, RI) had a strong tournament for Emerson and was selected to the All-Tournament team.
DeStefano dropped in 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Lauren Vassallo, a transfer from Colby-Sawyer College, added 20 points and also grabbed 13 boards for the Lions in the two games.
2005-2006
Squad Named To Top 25 Academic List. The Emerson College women's basketball team has been named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division III Academic Team Honor Roll for the 2005 - 2006 season. The Lions are the only Division III team in New England to qualify for the top 25 honor.
Emerson's women's basketball players earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.331 on a 4.0 scale. First year student Maude Okrah (Rutland, MA) had the team's highest GPA with a 3.66, followed closely by senior Jenny Barr (Cambridge City, IN) with a 3.62. The WBCA Honor is the first for the Emerson program Okrah Named to GNAC Honor Roll
First year student Maude Okrah (Rutland, MA), has been named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll for the week ending January 29. Okrah, a guard, scored a career-high 22 points in a Conference victory over Daniel Webster College and added five steals in the Lions' three games during the week.
Emerson Captures "Friendly," Coppola, Bernier Honored
Emerson College withstood a furious comeback by Pine Manor College in the Emerson-Pine Manor Friendly December 3 and 4, to take a 73-70 decision and win the tournament. The Lions led by 25 points in the second half of the final game, only to see the Gators make a run that fell just short.
Emerson's Pam Coppola (Junior, Burlington, MA) was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, and teammate Allie Bernier (Sophomore, Dayville, CT) was selected to the All-Tournament Team. Coppola scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds in the two games, including 8 of 10 shooting in the championship game. Bernier racked up 21 points with five assists and three steals.
Coppola Earns All-Tournament Honors Emerson junior basketball forward Pam Coppola (Burlington, MA) has been named to the All-Tournament team at the Amherst College Tip-Off Tournament. In the two games, Coppola scored 29 points and had 20 rebounds. In the tournament's second game, a 1-point loss to Westfield State College, Coppola had a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds.