Springfield, Mass. - January 25, 2016 - Behind 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists from senior forward Emily Gins (Fort Myers, Fla.), the Springfield College women's basketball program defeated MCLA, 73-52, on Monday night in Blake Arena.

With the win, Springfield picks up its third-straight victory, and improves to 12-6 overall, while MCLA falls to 10-7 on the season with the loss. The Pride continued its dominant shooting from the weekend, as Springfield was 32-of-66 (48.5%) as a team, including a 20-for-33 (60.6%) shooting effort in the second half. The Pride also held a 41-27 advantage on the glass, and caused 18 turnovers on the evening. The Trailblazers shot 21-for-51 (41.2%) over the course of 40 minutes.

Along with Gins' impressive night, freshman guard Chelsea McAllister (Springfield, Vt.) produced a career-best 12 points to go along with three rebounds, as senior guard Heather Lewis (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) added 12 points and four boards. 

For MCLA, Karina Mattera (Johnston, R.I.) registered a game-high 17 points to go along with three assists, while Courtney Durivage (Wynantskill, N.Y.) and Kayla Hotaling (Ravena, N.Y.) both notched a team-beset five rebounds in the contest.

The Pride got off to a strong start, beginning the game with seven unanswered points, capped by a transition bucket from Lexi Windwer (Milton, Mass.), before the Trailblazers answered with a three-pointer from Courtney McLaughlin (Pittsfield, Mass.) to cut its deficit to four. Springfield would retain its seven-point lead with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter when junior center Ava Adamopoulos (Ludlow, Mass.) converted a free-throw to make it 10-3, Springfield. Mattera (Johnston, R.I.) scored the final three points of the quarter, as the Pride led 10-6 at the end of one.

Back-and-forth play highlighted the opening minutes of the second quarter, before Springfield rattled off eight unanswered points to make it 21-11 midway through the stanza. With 4:12 remaining in the half, the Trailblazers pulled back to within four points before McAllister drilled a three-pointer, followed by a Lewis layup to regain a significant 27-18 advantage. A basket from sophomore forward Heather King (Lebanon, N.H.) with two seconds on the clock carried Springfield into the half leading 29-20. 

The Pride led from the onset in the third quarter, extending its lead to 13 following a pair of baskets from Lewis and Gins just two minutes in. An additional basket from Gins and a layup from McAllister midway through the third quarter gave the Pride a 15-point lead, as the Pride finished the period holding a 23-11 advantage over the Trailblazers, of which 20 points occurred in the paint. 

Springfield would take its biggest lead of the game when Adamopoulos converted a lay-up just 1:38 into the final quarter to give the Pride a 56-31 advantage, but the Trailblazers would cut its deficit back to 19 following a lay-up in transition from McKenzie Robinson (Adams, Mass.). A three-point play, followed by a lay-up from junior Molly McCausland (Millbury, Mass.) would push Springfield's lead back to 25, sealing th 73-52 win for the Pride.

Next, Springfield will return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play when it travels to Babson for a 1 p.m. bout.