Junior guard Nicole Casimiro (Lee, NH/Oyster River) scored a career high 24 points with five rebounds to lead the Mount Ida College women's basketball to their fourth victory over visiting non-conference UMASS-Boston 68-61 in the back end of a twin bill with the men's team this Tuesday night. The Mustangs improve to 4-6 overall while the Beacons drop to 1-7 on the year.
In a game where there were 13 lead changes, the hosts held the early advantage up 5-4 in the opening five minutes of the contest. The visitors caught up off a 9-0 run taking an eight point advantage up 13-7 with 12:13 to go in the first half.
Casimiro drained two consecutive shots from downtown to knot the score at 13 all eventually giving the Mustangs the momentum with just under 11 minutes to go. Both teams exchanged baskets for the remainder of the half, each squad one upping each other with another two lead changes. Mount Ida would head into the locker room trailing by five down 34-29.
The visitors came out in the second half taking the early four point lead up 32-36 in the first minute. Both squads eventually swapped baskets for almost the entire second half tying nine times. The Beacons were tough on the Mustangs underneath the basket, but Mount Ida was outstanding from beyond the arc and at the charity stripe keeping it very close.
The hosts, leading by four with just over a minute to go in the game, knocked down a jumper from the top of the key by junior Ashley Boyd (Hanson, MA/Hanson-Whitman) pulling ahead 65-61. UMass-Boston was stifled by the Mustang defense with four turnovers in the final two minutes.
The Beacons attempted a desperation shot at the victory fouling Mount Ida and hoping they would miss from the line. But Mustang sophomore Becky Tisbert (Cambridge, VT/Lamoille Union) iced the game with three out of four free throws to give the hosts the 68-61 victory.
Along with a huge outing from Casimiro, Mount Ida saw an outstanding performance from junior captain Cherie Parisi (North Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) netting 21 points,11 caroms, and six steals good for another double-double on the season. Freshman forward Hannah Blum (Raleigh, NC/Broughton) pounded down low with 12 points and five boards.
The Beacons were led by senior Leanne Meninger (Everett, MA/Everett) with a career high 24 points and 14 rebounds. Sophomore Norma Cumbee (Malden, MA/Malden) netted 10 points with two rebounds.
The Mustangs finish up the semester with an overall record of 4-6. They will start the action back up on January 8, 2009 at non-conference Framingham State College starting at 6:00 p.m.