As the final buzzer echoed through the Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gym on Monday, the Emerson women’s basketball team became 2-0.
The Lions have different momentum than last year, when they started the season with a loss to Suffolk University. This season, there have been significant changes to the roster, including the departure of four seniors: Olivia Deslauriers, Ella Bushee, Ava Salti, and Quinn O’Connor. With fewer experienced players, new additions have been crucial to the Lions, which was reflected in this game’s starting lineup: three sophomores, one freshman, and one graduate student.
But inexperience did not appear to be a problem. The Lions notched 27 points in the first quarter while holding Elms to just 11. Sophomore forward Elise Arnold’s three-pointer and first-year point guard Jessie Silk’s layups and free throws helped Emerson establish an early edge.
The Elms College Blazers did not back down, with a strong response in the second quarter. The Blazers tallied 27 points while limiting the Lions to 16, cutting the lead to just five points by halftime, 43-38. The Blazers improved their field goal percentage from 25% in the first quarter to 52.9% in the second. For Emerson, turnovers increased during the second quarter.
Emerson College head coach Bill Gould said defense was the main issue.
“I really think the offensive issues happened because of our poor defense. Sometimes when you play bad defense, it impacts your offense,” Gould said. “And if people start getting a little tense, because we were fouling, that impacts our offense.”
He added that bad defense was forcing the players into bad plays offensively.
“We just gave up an and-one; now we have to rush and force something, and that caused poor decisions,” Gould said.
Silk said the team had to wade through the mud to get through it.
“We definitely talked about that second quarter during halftime. You just kind of have to weather the storm, come together, and collect ourselves to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Silk.
The Lions quickly bounced back in the third quarter, scoring 22 points while holding the Blazers to 12. The lead was 20 points near the end of the third quarter, the score at 65-45 with one minute remaining. Emerson led by 15 points heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
The Lions struggled in the final quarter, despite shooting 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. They made just four of their 15 field goal attempts—a 26.7% shooting percentage, the lowest of all four quarters. Their three-point shooting also dropped, with only 20% (1-for-5) of attempts made. The Blazers outscored Emerson 20-15, but the Lions held on for the win, 80-70.
“Our defense was atrocious, and we need to get better at defense because it was god-awful,” Gould said. “I think ultimately, the thing that saved us was our offense, and especially Jessie, who did a great job as a freshman point guard.”
Silk racked up 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in just her second collegiate game.
“This is our second game. I am still settling in, but I think confidence is key. I am ready,” Silk said.
Silk gave everything she had on that court. She played all 40 minutes, partly because of the absence of Bri Frongillo, a former Div. I basketball player from Bryant University. She was Emerson’s starting guard last season, but is currently sidelined due to an injury.
Gould said the absence of Frongillo forced Silk to take on a heavier role on the court. He mentioned that freshmen are not usually asked to do that, but Silk did a great job.
Gould also gave credit to other players on the team.
“Charlotte [Levison] came in and had a huge game—a really good bounce-back game where she felt good about what she was doing,” Gould said. “And I think everyone else just chipped in. Sophia Canter had a really good game as well.”
Levison led the team with 22 points and eight rebounds, tying Arnold in rebounds, and added two blocks. Canter added eight points off the bench, along with two assists and one steal.
The Lions will face the Houghton Highlanders for the first time in program history, with the game set to tip off at 1 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the Brown-Plofker Gym.
