The women’s basketball team kicked off the second weekend of NESCAC play this past weekend, hosting Williams on Friday and Middlebury on Saturday. On Friday night the Cards took on the Ephs, hoping to avenge a three-point loss they suffered only ten days earlier at Williams’ home gym. The game was close the entire 40 minutes and neither team carried more than a seven point lead, but in the end, it was the Ephs who prevailed 53-46.
Coming out of halftime Williams was up 24-22, the Ephs scored a quick four points early in the second to stretch the lead to 28-22. However, Wesleyan quickly responded and was able to take a 36-35 lead at the 12:38 mark on a three pointer by tri-captain McKinley Tennant ’11. This lead quickly evaporated, however, as the Cards were unable to effectively box out down the stretch. Williams took advantage of this, grabbing three key offensive rebounds on one possession which ended with a three-point basket putting the Ephs up by four in the final minutes of the game. After that blow Wes was unable to recover as Williams took the lead by seven.
The result marked a significant departure from Williams’ previous three trips to Silloway Gym, all of which were Wesleyan wins by an average of 26 points. The Cardinals defeated the Ephs 65-47 in the 2007-08 regular-season finale and took a 68-49 victory in the first round of the NESCAC tournament the following week. Wesleyan continued its dominance last season, as the Cardinals took an 86-45 victory over their rival on Jan. 13, equalling the most lopsided result in the 70-game series.
“Collectively, we fell apart in our execution,” said guard Leigh Stewart ’13. “Williams got some key offensive rebounds, which gave them momentum toward the end, [and] followed up with several steals that sealed the game. We worked hard all game but could not finish in crunch time.”
Tennant finished in double digits with 11 points, including an impressive 3-for-3 showing from behind the arc. Sam LaCroce ’12 narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Left with a sour taste in their mouths after giving the Williams game away, the Cards came out hungry for their first NESCAC win of the season on Saturday afternoon against Middlebury. Middlebury went on an 11-0 run at the 11:55 mark of the first half, but Wesleyan responded near the end of the half with a key three-pointer from LaCroce. With several hustle plays by the bench Wesleyan was able to go into the locker room at half-timewith a 27-26 lead.
Wes carried the momentum they had gained from the final three minutes of the first half to build on their lead in the second half. Seven different Cardinals scored in the frame, which allowed Wes to pull away and win its first NESCAC game of the season, 60-52.
“We had some really big plays from people off the bench and that made all the difference in the game,” said tri-captain Erin Gold ’11. “The bench brought us an extra spark that we needed which helped lead us to victory.”
All but one Cardinal scored in the game, with Gold, Gaffney and LaCroce finishing in double figures.
Finishing winter break with a 2-5 record, the Cards now have an overall record of 7-9 and a NESCAC mark of 1-3. The Cards will host nationally ranked Tufts on Friday at 6 p.m. and then will finish their third NESCAC weekend against Bates at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
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