Worcester, MA- After nearly three weeks since their last game, the Worcester State Women's Basketball team returned to the court this afternoon to take on the Piedmont Lions down in Demorest, GA. This is the first of a two game Georgia swing for the Lancers, who have traveled south this year for their annual holiday team trip.

Final:

Worcester State: 51

Piedmont: 76

The first quarter saw a slow start for both teams as each struggled to find their opening basket, but at about two minutes into the game the action started to get going. Piedmont opened the scoring first with a layup but senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, MA) would respond just 30 seconds later with a lay up of her own to get each team rolling. A free throw for Hurynowicz would give the Lancers their first lead of the game. A quick burst of scoring from the Lions would see them jump out to a 7-3 lead before junior Abby St. Martin (Putnam, CT) would cut the lead down halfway through the first. The teams would find themselves going up and down the court for most of the first quarter, each adding buckets along the way to their tally. A late first quarter six point run would see the Lions grab a 17-13 lead into the second.

The second quarter would continue to see more of the same action from both teams as Worcester State went step for step with Piedmont, as the score differential would fluctuate as the two teams worked their way across the court for scoring opportunities. The Lions were finding a touch more offensive success in the second then the Lancers, stretching their lead to 11 points, but Worcester had no plans of backing down, and worked the boards to grab every opportunity possible to work the lead down by half time. A final seconds foul by the Lancers would allow the Lions to reclaim some ground going into half, with the score sitting at 32-20.

First year Alana Smith (Chicopee, MA) led the Lancers in the first two quarters with 6 points and 10 rebounds in a bid to record just her second double-double of the season. 

This quarter action would pick up right where the second left off with the Lions and Lancers going shot for shot. Piedmont went on an early quarter run that would see them extend the lead to 17 points but Worcester State would not be counted out and began to mount their own offensive run, scoring 10 points to the Lions four to cut the lead back down to the single digits.  Some late free throws for Piedmont would push their lead back to double digits, but Worcester State had rattled the Lions in the third quarter, and hoped to build off that uncertainty in the fourth quarter. 

The fourth quarter pause allowed each team to reset and refocus with each team coming out ready to run, but the Lancers aggressive defense allowed Piedmont further chances at the free throw line to extend their lead and find their offensive momentum. While the Lancers were aggressive all across the court, the previously rattled Lions managed to refocus and find some gaps in the high pressure of the Lancer defense to push their lead throughout the fourth quarter. The hot shooting of Piedmont found the Lancers playing more aggressive in a bid to swing the run in their direction. Ball handling and possession were key throughout the fourth quarter and with an early lead built up in the final quarter of action, Piedmont was settled and unwilling to allow much ground. The Lancers took numerous risks and shots for the remainder of the fourth, but were unable to overcome the early rally in their comeback bid, falling 76-51.

Smith would complete the double-double in the game recording 16 points and 20 rebounds as the Lancers shot 34.8% from the court in the afternoon matchup. 

Worcester State (1-10, 0-0) return to action tomorrow at 3pm when they travel to Oglethorpe for the New Years Eve game to wrap up their holiday trip.