Worcester State Defeats MCLA, 61-44

 Worcester, MA – The Worcester State College women’s basketball team got 18 first half points from senior guard Rachael Odugbela (Providence, RI) and went on to defeat the visiting Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts by the final score of, 61-44, Saturday afternoon at Lancer Gymnasium.  The win improves the Lancers to 9-7 (2-2 MASCAC) on the season while MCLA falls to 6-8 (1-2 MASCAC).

Odugbela hit 5 of 7 from the field including 3 three pointers to provide most of the Lancers scoring in the first half as Worcester State struggled to just 38.7% shooting from the floor in the half.  MCLA was led by freshman forward Lauren Silverman (Ballston Lake, NY) who scored 9 points and hauled down 7 first half rebounds.  MCLA also got six points from senior Kristen Lewis (Johnsonville, NY) and junior Meredith Sullivan (Lanesboro, MA).  Worcester State led, 31-28, at the break

Worcester State’s shooting fell to 30.8% in the second half as they hit just 8 field goals, but the Trailblazers went ice cold shooing 15.4% from the field in the second half totaling just 4 second half field goals.

Odugbela led all scorers finishing with a double-double scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.  Junior Maureen Lemay (Nashua, NH) was the only other Lancer in double figures scoring 13 points.  Silverman was the only MCLA player to finish in double digits scoring 11 points and getting 12 rebounds for the double-double effort.  Sullivan was second finishing with 9 points.

Worcester State will travel to Bridgewater State on Tuesday to take on the Bears in MASCAC action while MCLA will host the Lady Vikings of Salem State College Tuesday evening.

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