North Adams, Mass. - January 22, 2015 - A strong defensive performance from the Springfield College women's basketball team helped the Pride defeat the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) 48-32 on Thursday evening.

With the win, Springfield improves to 12-5 on the year, while MCLA fall to 6-10 overall. The last time the Pride held a team to under 35 points in a contest was on January 29, 2011 when it held MIT to 31 points. Tonight's game was originally scheduled for 5:30 p.m., but due to a bus malfunction during travel, the game was delayed 2.5 hours and tipped off around 8 p.m.

Springfield was 20-for-49 (40.8%) from the field in the victory, while the Trailblazers were 10-for-51 (19.6%) on the evening. Senior forward Jaimie Bickelhaupt (Brookfield, Conn.) posted her eighth double-double of the season, registering 14 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman forward Heather King (Lebanon, N.H.) contributed 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field, including eight points in the first half. Both junior forward Emily Gins (Fort Myers, Fla.) and sophomore guard Dina Pitsas (Milford, Conn.) posted a team-high seven rebounds, while senior guard Andrea Moschetta (Harrison, N.Y.) dished out three assists in the victory.

MCLA jumped out to an early 8-2 lead over the Pride after a jumpshot from Kayla Hotaling (Ravena, N.Y.), but the Pride would go on an 9-2 run, capped off by a free-throw from Bickelhaupt to give the Pride a one-point advantage.

After the Trailblazers regained a one-point lead after a free-throw from Brayleigh Hanlon (Wynantskill, N.Y.), but from there, Springfield went on another 9-2 run to end the half, including fKing going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field to finish with eight first-half points in the final 4:19 of the half and giving Springfield a 23-15 lead at the break.

After a three-pointer from sophomore guard Lexi Windwer (Milton, Mass.) just 17 seconds into the second half, Springfield pushed its lead to 16 after a layup from Gins. The Trailblazers then cut its deficit down to 12 after a free-throw from Emily Moulton (North Adams, Mass.), but the Pride went on a 5-0 run, capped by a lay-up from sophomore center Ava Adamopoulos (Ludlow, Mass.) to put Springfield up 38-21 midway through the second half. 

A jumpshot from King made it 42-25, Springfield, with 5:13 remaining, before freshman LeeAnn Downs (Portland, Maine) and Christa Brent (Wilmington, Mass.) contributed to the scoring in the final moments of the game to ice the 48-32 victory.

Up next, the Pride will return home to host Emerson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest on Saturday, January 24 at 1 p.m.