Lady AMCATS Down Lasell on Senior Day, 85-58

Paxton, Mass. –  Anna Maria College juniors Trafficia Warburton (Worcester, Mass.) and Katie Pryor (Whitinsville, Mass.) combined for 44 points to lead the AMCATS to a 85-58 victory over Lasell College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Fuller Activities Center.

In a pre-game ceremony, head coach Kevin Bigelow and the AMCATS honored senior Taylor Walker (Winchendon, Mass.) for her contributions to the women's basketball team over her three-year career.

Pryor notched 22 points on 6-of-17 shhoting from the field including three from beyond the arc and a nice 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Warburton added 22 points and 10 rebounds for her tenth double-double on the season. Walker poured in 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor, while freshman Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) ended the afternoon in double figures with 13 points.

Lasell was led by sophomore Katie Stopera (Hollis, NH), who totaled a team-high 19 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, while teammate Danielle Autencio (Montville, CT) garnered a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The game opened with Lasell quickly building a 6-0 lead on a pair of threes from Molly Lauver (Cambridge, NY) and Stopera, however Anna Maria would settle into their half-court offense and tie the game at 6-all with 16:23 to play. The first nine minutes of the game would see five lead changes but when sophomore  Brandi Pasternack (North Brookfield, Mass.) connected on a jumper from the elbow at the 10:15 mark Anna Maria would take a 16-15 advantage they would never relinquish. The AMCATS would outscore the Lasers 28-13 over the last ten minutes of the half to take a 16-point, 44-28 lead at intermission.

Anna Maria continued to apply the offensive pressure in the second frame and extended its lead to as many as 31 (79-48) on a layup by Walker with 5:48 to play in the game. The Lasers closed out the game with three straight from the charity stipe to set the final score at 85-58.

The AMCATS held the advantage in shooting percentage, (49.2% - 34.0%), rebounds (42-34) and steals (16-6) en route to the victory.

Anna Maria will head to Suffolk University for a GNAC match-up on Tuesday evening at 7:00p.m., while Lasell will return home to host Norwich University at 6:00 p.m. on the same night.