Garabedian’s Double Double Leads Women’s Basketball Over MCLA

BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season over the MCLA Trailblazers behind Taylor Garabedian's fifth double double of the season.  The sophomore led the team with 16 points and 14 rebounds to go with five steals and three blocks.

Grace Moltenbrey added 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench while Mia Luna Zayas scored 10 points and dished out two assists. Elise Ayer had 13 boards and scored eight points to go with three assists. The Leopards shot 38% from the field and grabbed 52 total rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Trailblazers took an early 6-2 lead before buckets from Moltenbrey and Garabedian leveled the score. Zayas knocked down a three and Garabedian scored another layup to give Wentworth an 11-6 edge with a minute to play in the first. Moltenbrey and Zayas added a bucket each to close out the quarter with a 15-8 lead. The defense held MCLA to just one bucket in six minutes of the action.
• Ayer tallied two buckets in 30 seconds to extend the Leopards' lead to 11 just 90 seconds into the second quarter. Wentworth's defense continued to force tough shots and grabbed rebounds to keep MCLA off the board until Abigail Scialabba's three broke the scoring drought for the Trailblazers. Both sides went two minutes without a bucket before Zayas drained a three to restore the 11-point lead for the hosts. Kailee McPhillips scored five points in 30 seconds to stretch the advantage to 15 in the final two minutes of the half. The Trailblazers had two quick makes in the final stretch, but McPhillips' layup in the final seconds sent Wentworth into the half with a 32-17 lead.
• Zayas scored the only bucket for Wentworth in the opening three minutes of the third quarter while MCLA cut the lead down to 13, forcing the Leopards into a timeout. Out of the break, Wentworth made three straight stops but could not add to their advantage. Scialabba's layup made it 34-23 as the Trailblazers began gaining momentum. Moltenbrey drained a three to end the scoring drought and restore the 14-point edge for Wentworth. Garabedian hit a three after an MCLA turnover as the Leopards took control of the game, leading 46-23 heading into the final frame.
• Gianna Gioia got on the board with a layup in the fourth quarter before both sides went cold for nearly two minutes. Garabedian's layup put Wentworth in front by 25 with 7 minutes to play and the first win of the season was in their sights. Tita Rana and Moltenbrey added to the lead in the final two minutes. Moltenbrey hit another three in the final minute as Wentworth closed out the game and won 59-31.

THE SERIES:

• Today was the 4th all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth is 3-1 against MCLA.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts UMass Boston on Tuesday, December 16.

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