NEWTON, Mass. – Lasell University picked up a 51-48 non-conference win over Wellesley College basketball on Tuesday night.

The Blue (2-2) took a narrow 38-36 lead into the fourth period. The teams alternated points and one possession margins until a Kiara Cerruti (Canton, Mass.) three gave Lasell (2-2) the 49-48 edge with 2:01 remaining. That score remained until 13 seconds left in the contest when Lasers senior Juju Nealy (Fitchburg, Mass.) knocked down a pair of foul shots. A last second jumper by the Blue missed, giving Lasell the 51-48 win.

Cerruti paced Lasell with 15 points, including a trio of made three pointers. Junior Laura Johnson (Groton, Conn.) grabbed 14 boards while Nealy dished out five assists. Lasell held a 37-27 advantage in the rebound battle.

Senior Caitlin Windross (Eastvale, Calif.), sophomore Trinity Barrow (Evans, Ga.) and first year Ava Shane (Plano, Texas) all hit double-figures for the Blue with 10 points apiece. Shane had a team-high six rebounds, Barrow recorded four steals and Wellesley went 9-for-9 from the charity stripe as a team.

Neither team led by more than one possession throughout the entire first quarter. The Blue outscored the Lasers 12-11. 

Lasell bounced back to take a 24-22 advantage by halftime. A three from Cerruti gave the Lasers a 24-20 lead late in the quarter before first year Arielle LePage (Wayne, Pa.) hit a pair of foul shots to cut the deficit to two.

Wellesley outscored Lasell 16-12 in the third to take the one score lead heading into the fourth. Cerruti had seven points in the frame and Johnson grabbed five rebounds.

Wellesley will compete against St. Lawrence University to open the Westfield Gas and Electric Tip-off Tournament at Westfield State University on Friday, November 22 at 7:30 PM. Lasell travels to Framingham State University for a 6:00 PM matchup that same day.