Achzet, Roser Tandem Lead Women’s Basketball To 68-62 Victory

AURORA, N.Y. – Senior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) posted a team-leading 24 points as the Wells College women's basketball team posted a 68-62 victory over the Pioneers of Alfred State College. With the win, the Express continue their best start in program history with an 8-5 overall record following the non-league game. The Pioneers fall to 3-7 on the year.

Roser recorded a double-double with 24 total points and 15 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. Sophomore Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) tied a career-high mark with 16 points for Wells, shooting 7-for-13 from the floor and adding three assists in the game. Senior Theresa Hernandez (Dewitt, N.Y.) ranked third on the squad with 12 points and tied for the team lead with Roser in assists with four.

With the game tied at four aside with only 2:54 expired on the game clock in the first, Wells exploded for 11-straight points. During that stretch, Roser recorded eight points in just over one minute and had her run capped off by an Achzet jumper with 15:44 remaining in the first half. The Pioneers, trailing 22-10 with 9:51 remaining in the first, countered with seven-straight points from Mercedes Caver to cut the lead to seven.

By the end of the half, however, Wells rebuilt a strong 15 point lead following a layup by junior Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) to extend the lead to 37-22. Despite scoring the half's final four points, the Pioneers were outshot by the Express 41.7% to 28.4% and allowed 24 Express points in the paint. Alfred State turnovers directly led to 13 Wells points in the frame.

Leading by 14 points with 5:20 expired on the second half clock, a Wells College technical foul temporarily let the visitors back into the game. After Caver buried 1-of-2 technical foul shots, Steffanie Preston bombed a three that lit a spark underneath the Pioneers offense. Alfred State cut the lead to only eight points minutes later, setting the score at 51-43, with 13:01 remaining in the half.

The Pioneers continued to battle, eventually shrinking the deficit to two points with 2:57 left in the game as Elesha Wiggins and Caver combined for six-straight Pioneer points down the stretch to nearly tie the game. Hernandez, however, countered with a clutch layup to re-extend the Express lead. In the final 1:23, Wells converted 6-of-7 foul shots to recreate a six point lead, 68-62, with four seconds left on the clock to close the door.

Caver led all players on the evening for Alfred State with 28 points, shooting 10-for-27 from the floor. Destiny Brito added seven assists and five steals, both team-leading marks. Brito and Jennifer Fedrick tied for the team lead in total rebounds with seven.

Wells returns to action this Friday, Jan. 17 as they host the Chargers from Lancaster Bible College in an 8:00 p.m. league contest within the Farenthold Athletic Wing.