Blue Basketball Triumphs Over Regis in Season Opener, 69-66

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Yitzel Serna (Palmdale, Calif.) scored 20 points and secured nine rebounds to lead Wellesley College basketball to a 69-66 win over Regis in the team's season-opener on Wednesday at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

In addition to Serna, senior Jiyun Chae (Chantilly, Va.), and first years Trinity Barrow (Evans, Ga.) and Mirella Funari (Phoenix, Ariz.) combined for 41 points for the Blue (1-0 Overall). Barrow had four steals and four assists, the latter of which tied for the team lead with junior Sairah O'Brien-Forde (Binghamton, N.Y.).

Sophomore Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) scored a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Pride (0-1 Overall) while classmate Erika Marinelli (Point Pleasant, N.J.) added 12 points on five of six shooting. 

Wellesley led 15-5 after one quarter with Funari scoring six points. The Blue led 15-2 before Regis scored the final three points of the quarter, including a buzzer-beater layup from first year Larissa Gilberto (Weymouth, Mass.).

The Pride outshot the Blue 22-20 in the second quarter with Zancan putting up 11 points, six rebounds, and four steals in the quarter. Wellesley was up 35-27 at halftime.

The Blue got the lead up to 13 at 42-29 on a layup from Funari early in the third quarter before the Pride went on an 11-0 run that was capped off by a steal and a fastbreak layup from Marinelli. Marinelli later tied the game at 44-44 on a three pointer before the Blue took a three point lead into the end of the quarter on a made three from Serna.

A made layup from Zancan gave Regis a 48-47 lead at 8:27 in the fourth. Wellesley tied the game at 50-50 before the two teams passed the lead back and forth until Wellesley built a four point lead at 59-55. A pair of made free throws from Barrow upped the margin to eight at 65-57. 

The Pride continued to chip away at Wellesley's lead until senior Courtney Doherty (Willimantic, Conn.) made it a one point game at 67-66. The Blue capitalized on free throws from Chae and sophomore Arla Hofer (Las Vegas, Nev.) to hang on and win a 69-66 game.

Wellesley shot 44.7 percent from the field on 21 of 47 shooting, including six of 10 shooting from behind the arc. The Pride outrebounded the Blue 51-37.

The Blue travel to Waltham to face Brandeis on Friday, November 10 at 5:00 PM as part of the Judges Invitational. The Pride return home on Saturday, November 11 to host UMass Dartmouth at 1:00 PM.