NORTH ADAMS, Mass. --  MCLA's Mike Demartinis scored 27 points to lead the Trailblazers to a hard fought 80-72 victory over the visiting Worcester State Lancers Saturday afternoon in men's basketball action. 

 

The Lancers (11-11, 4-5 MASCAC) led 37-34 at halftime but MCLA never went away as the game featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties. With the score at 67-66 in favor of WSU with just three minutes remaining, MCLA came back once again.  Demartinis started the late game run with a drive to the hoop to give MCLA the lead. Following a stop, Ki-Shawn Monroe would hit a pull up jumper to make it 70-67 in favor of the hosts.

 

After WSU's Shaun McCarthy made a layup on the other end, Quran Davis drilled the biggest shot of the afternoon as his three put MCLA up 73-69 with just 1:58 left.  Worcester's Chris Cardoso, who also had a game best 27 point night, converted a deep three to pull the Lancers within one at 73-72 with a minute left, but Demartinis was fouled and calmly sank both FT's to extend the lead.  Following a turnover and forced to foul, the Trailblazers' Davis made one of two and the Lancers never scored again. MCLA would score the final seven points to preserve the victory.

 

Demartinis shot 9-22 from the floor and a perfect 8-8 from the line for his 27 point night. Davis ended with 12 points on 4-10 shooting.  Monroe scored only 8 points, but added 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals for the Trailblazers. Drury graduate Hayden Bird chipped in with 10 points.

 

MCLA (6-15, 2-7) shot 41 percent from the field in the win and overcame 15 turnovers.

 

MCLA is back in action on Wednesday night when it travels to Fitchburg State.

 

Women's Basketball

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. --  Worcester State's Brittany Herring scored 26 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting day to lift the visiting Lancer women's basketball team past the MCLA Trailblazers 60-48.

 

In the opening half, the Lancer defense clamped down on MCLA holding them to just 23 percent shooting. Worcester (17-5, 8-1) pulled ahead midway through the first quarter. The Lancers trailed 5-4 after Hoosac Valley graduate Mckenzie Robinson drilled a 3-pointer, but WSU answered with a 12-1 spurt to close the quarter and take a 16-6 lead after ten minutes of action.

 

They extended the margin to 14 points at 24-10 and ultimately would lead 25-14 at the half as MCLA continued their offensive struggles. Britt Herring led all scorers with 11 points in the first half. Neither team possessed the ball well as the teams combined for 19 first half turnovers.

 

MCLA (4-16, 0-9) stormed out of the locker room and pulled within 40-39 when Courtney Pingelski scored in the fourth quarter. Worcester would respond though as Kaitlyn Berkel scored five straight points to ignite an 8-2 spurt to push the lead back to 48-41 with just under five minutes left to play. MCLA got no closer than five the rest of the way as the Lancers were able to keep the hosts at bay.

 

MCLA was paced by Pingelski's team-best 18 point night.  Sam Gawron added 8 points and 6 rebounds. The Trailblazers shot just 31 percent from the floor and also committed 15 turnovers.

 

Prior to the contest, MCLA honored their five seniors.  Those who were honored included Robinson, Karina Mattera, L'Rae Brundige, Pingelski, and Gawron.