CHICOPEE, Mass. --  Drury High graduate Hayden Bird led four Trailblazers in double figures with 25 points as the MCLA men's basketball team used a strong first half to earn an 89-72 win over Elms.

 

MCLA is now 5-4 as is off until Jan. 4. Elms dips to 2-7 on the season.

 

Bird was 9-for-14 from the floor and an impressive 7-for-10 shooting from beyond the 3-point line. He added seven rebounds. Chris Becker aided Bird's efforts with 19 points while Noah Yearsley chipped in with 17. Ki-Shawn Monroe notched 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Quentin Gittens took advantage of his start to snag a team best 11 rebounds.

 

MCLA led just 17-14 in the first half, but Bird connected from deep on two straight possessions and a Becker layup extended MCLA out to a 25-14 advantage.  Another Bird triple capped the 11-0 spurt and MCLA led 28-14. The Trailblazers would eventually lead 44-25 at halftime.

 

In the second half, Elms trimmed the margin to 11 at 73-62, but MCLA answered on a Becker layup and then Yearsley connected from long range to keep Elms at bay. From there, MCLA cruised home.

 

MCLA shot 50% from the floor compared to just 38% for the Blazers. MCLA held a decided 44-28 edge in the paint.

 

Elms was led by D.J. Edelen's 24 points.  Kewan Smoot and Jaijuan Macklin had 14 and 11 points respectively.

 

Women's Basketball

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- MCLA couldn't generate any offense all night as it fell to Union, 62-28.

 

MCLA (2-7) was in it through the first quarter, though it trailed 19-11. From there, however, it was all Union (3-4).  The Trailblazers did not score more than six points in any quarter as Union began to wear down MCLA.

 

Union held a 27-17 lead at halftime, but would outscore MCLA 35-11 over the final two quarters to earn the runaway victory.

 

The Dutchwomen defense was outstanding all night. They held MCLA to just 19% shooting and forced the Trailblazers into 25 turnovers.

 

Union was paced by Laura Vinton and Kendall Degenhardt. Each ended with 10 points. Union shot just 34% themselves in the win.

 

MCLA was led by Kylah Langston's 10 point night.