Author: Alissa Dobrinsky

The women’s basketball team has been playing non-stop, wrapping up their regular season this past Saturday, Feb. 9.

“I think the team is feeling good about the end of the regular season,” captain Olivia Gorman ’19 said. “We would have liked to win a few more games, but throughout the season we have become more confident and aware of what we are capable of.”

On Friday, Jan. 25, the Cardinals beat Bates at home, 67-42. Tara Berger ’19 and Caleigh Ryan ’22 both recorded double-doubles, helping the team secure this win. Ryan, unable to score in the first half, recorded 18 points in the final 20 minutes of the game. As if that wasn’t enough, she also grabbed 12 rebounds (nine of which were offensive), three steals, one block, and one assist. Due to the Red and Black’s aggressive defense, Bates could not manage to score more than 15 points in the first half. The Cardinals out-rebounded the Bobcats, 64-36, and outscored in second chance put backs, 17-4. This win put the team at 11-7 overall and 3-3 in the NESCAC.

The women’s team had their senior day game, honoring captains Gorman, Berger, and Chynna Bailey ’19 on Saturday, Jan. 26. Head Coach Kate Mullen honored these players before the game. All three joined as first years in 2015 and have greatly contributed to the team and the program ever since.

Yet the game ended with defeat as the Cards lost to No. 6 Tufts, 71-48. Gorman led the team in points, with 15, while Ava Tompkins ’20 led the team in assists, three, and Bailey recorded the game-high for steals, four, and grabbed eight rebounds. Berger recorded her seventh double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and taking 11 rebounds; she also blocked four shots, a game-high.

The Red Birds ended January with a win, defeating the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 46-44 at home on Tuesday, Jan. 29. Berger and Ryan again both recorded double-doubles to help secure this difficult win. Berger led the game in points and rebounds, scoring 14 points and grabbing 15 boards. Emma Roush ’21 led all players with three assists, and Marina Petruzzi ’22 led the bench with nine points. The Cardinals dominated the glass, with a 53-26 lead in rebounds. Once again, Wesleyan’s defense helped secure a notable win for them, shutting out MIT in the final minutes of the game.

February started with a tough loss for the Cardinals, losing 80-76 against Trinity. Although in the end the Cards did not get the win, it was still an impressive game for the team. Gorman scored a season-high of 25 points, keeping the game close. Berger recorded another double-double, with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Ryan and Petruzzi both scored impressive numbers, 14 and 11, respectively. The team played well together, however, they could not manage to secure the win in the last quarter.

The Red Birds went on to defeat Vermont Tech in a blowout game, 93-42, on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Berger led the team with 15 points. First-year Maddie Clark recorded a season-high of 10 points, while Tompkins led the game with five assists, and Ryan and Katy O’Connor ’21 led the team with 10 rebounds. This victory put the team at 13-9 overall.

On Friday, Feb. 8, the team won against Colby College, 78-59, securing a spot in the NESCAC Tournament. Gorman scored a game-high 23 points, and Berger yet again recorded a double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Petruzzi dropped 12 points off the bench, and Bailey added seven points to the scoreboard; she also grabbed six rebounds, recorded two steals, and a game-high five assists. This win put the team at 14-9 overall and 4-5 in the league.

Gorman also made history when she became the 12th player in Wesleyan’s history to score 1,000 career points. She recorded 23 points, the exact number she needed, in a 92-75 loss against No. 1 Bowdoin on Sunday, Feb. 9. This game ended regular-season play.

“It feels really good to hit 1000,” Gorman said. “I have put in a lot of hard work and have always had the goal in the back of my mind. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and the hard work they put in during and outside of the season. I hope this can be a restart for women 1000-point scorers at Wes and that we get a few more names up on the banner in the coming years.  It was also pretty cool to get it on the same day as Jordan Bonner [’19]. I’m super happy for him, too.”

Make sure to congratulate the team on the end of their regular season and support them as they make their way into the NESCAC Quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. They will play either Amherst or Hamilton depending on the outcome of Tuesday’s game.

Alissa Dobrinsky can be reached at adobrinksky@wesleyan.edu.

The women’s basketball team played hard non-stop over the school break, both on the road and at home. 

Over the break, Wesleyan played two games at the Miami Gardens Exclusive Tournament. On Dec. 19, the Cardinals started off the weekend with a tough defeat in a non-conference game against nationally-ranked No. 2 St. Thomas University, 85-49. The team’s captains, seniors Tara Berger, Olivia Gorman, and Chynna Bailey, carried the team during this difficult game. Berger and Gorman both scored in double digits, with 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Bailey led the team in rebounds (five) and assists (four). Unfortunately, the team could not properly defend Saints guard Madison Temple, who led the game in both points (30) and assists (7).

The next day, the team went on to defeat SUNY Plattsburgh, 71-39. Gorman, Berger, and Katy O’Connor ’21 notched high totals, all hitting double digits. Gorman was the high scorer of the game with 17 points, while O’Connor followed behind with 12 points. Berger recorded a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 boards. Along with O’Connor, other notable underclassmen this game include Emma Roush ’21, who recorded four assists, and Caleigh Ryan ’22, who scored nine points.

“My favorite thing about this team is how well integrated our first years are both on and off the court,” Berger said. “We’re lucky to have this young talented class contributing right away to our program.”

The Red Birds started 2019 by defeating Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham, 66-59, on Jan. 2 at home. While Devils junior guard Cayla Staggers led the team in scoring, dropping 21 points, it was not enough to defeat the Cards. Gorman followed closely behind Staggers with 20 points, while Berger grabbed 15 rebounds and Ryan made three assists. The Cards took the lead early in the first quarter, and held a 32-26 lead by the end of the half. Much of the team’s success in the first half can be attributed to its domination on the glass, bringing down 23 offensive rebounds.

“Caleigh Ryan has done well for us in the past few games, along with Marina Petruzzi ’22, who brings energy off the bench” Gorman said. “Tara Berger and Chynna Bailey have also stepped up, especially in the rebounding department.”

The Cardinals lost their first two NESCAC games against Little Three rival Williams, 83-62, and Middlebury, 69-57. Both games were played at home. Gorman led the team in scoring for both games, scoring 16 points against the Ephs and 14 points against the Panthers. In their game against Williams, Bailey and Berger both grabbed seven rebounds, and Ava Tompkins ’20 made two assists. Against Middlebury, Berger recorded nine rebounds, and Tompkins recorded six assists.

“Winter break is an important time for us because we start our NESCAC games,” Gorman said. “Our first two NESCAC games didn’t go how we wanted, but the team has bounced back with determination and I’m excited to see our continued progress.”

The team did in fact bounce back, winning a total of four more games over the break: the team defeated University of Maine Fort Kent on Jan. 8, 72-46; Hamilton on Jan. 11, 65-56; New Jersey City University on Jan. 14, 72-65; and Conn. College on Jan. 19, 68-60.

“I’m proud of the way we’ve been playing over break, especially since we have a very challenging schedule,” Berger said. “We’ve had some hard-fought wins over competitive NESCAC and non-conference teams. Our underclassmen are really stepping up and getting better each game.”

Unfortunately, each of the Cardinals’ winning streaks were broken the two times they faced defending champion Amherst. On Jan. 12, the team lost 62-44 on the road. While they lost at home on Jan. 21, it was a much closer game, 67-57.

“Looking ahead, our upcoming games will primarily be against tough NESCAC teams,” Berger said. “We know that our 2-3 conference record puts us in a position where we need to win some crucial games to make the playoffs, which is always our goal every season. I really like the way we’ve been competing, and feel confident that we will finish the season strong.”

Come out and support the women’s team Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. against Bates, as well as Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. against Tufts.   

Alissa Dobrinsky can be reached at adobrinsky@wesleyan.edu.

On Saturday, the women’s basketball team continued their win streak by defeating Marywood University 63-57. The Cardinals now stand at 3-1 this season. Wesleyan started the game strong, leading 19-9 at the end of the first quarter, and played a consistently solid game.

The second quarter was fast-paced and thrilling to watch. Olivia Gorman ’19 scored off a fast break at the 6:40 mark, followed by another fast break where she was fouled and scored on the first free throw, although she was short on the second. Additionally, Ava Tompkins ’20 hit a 3-pointer at the 6:02 mark, putting the Cards ahead by 14 points, their largest lead of the game. While a layup by Marywood’s Emily Theobold cut the lead to eight points, the Cardinals then went on a 6-2 run, closing out the first half leading 34-22 when Katy O’Connor ’21 scored a free-throw with :01 on the clock.

At half time, Gorman was the highest scorer on the court, having scored 10 points. The Pacers came out strong in the third, opening with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to eight points. A fast break where Gorman scored at the 5:39 mark put Wesleyan ahead 38-30, but then a three-pointer by Marywood’s Kilie Wyers cut the gap to five with 5:35 left on the clock. The Cards kept the energy and intensity high on the court and brought the lead back into double-digits thanks to a 3-pointer by Gorman and a layup off a rebound by Chynna Bailey ’19. However, the Pacers did not give up. When Morgan Shamro scored a three with 1:36 left in the quarter, the deficit was once again cut to five points. The third quarter ended with Wesleyan leading 47-40.

The fourth quarter maintained the same energy and excitement as the rest of the game. Early on, Tompkins scored from behind the arc, and Bailey scored consecutive layups, putting Wesleyan ahead by 13 with 6:15 on the clock. The end of the game was thrilling with both benches taking full advantage of their time outs. Marywood’s coach called a full timeout with 27.4 seconds left on the clock, with Wesleyan up 62-57. The Pacers came out of the time out trying to score a 3-pointer, however Shamro missed. With 15.5 seconds left on the clock, Marina Petruzzi ’22 was fouled and made the first of two, putting Wesleyan at 63-57, the final score of the game.

“Saturday was a great win for us,” Gorman said. “Our offense is coming together really well and our intensity on defense is helping us win games. It is exciting to be a part of this team because we have a lot of talent and we have the potential to have really successful season.”

The team’s success could be attributed to its strong teamwork, both offensively and defensively. That said, there were a few players with exceptional plays. Tara Berger ’19 recorded her fourth consecutive double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Gorman scored a game high 17 points, helping the Birds maintain their steady lead throughout the game.

Caleigh Ryan ’22 and Tompkins both recorded four assists, showcasing the team’s teamwork and ability to play selflessly. Starting point guard Tompkins pushed the ball and led the team, creating plays for her teammates to score as demonstrated through her ability to create assists, while also scoring eight points herself and recording six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Bailey also had a noteworthy game, scoring eight points while recording six rebounds, four blocks, two assists and one steal.

Overall, the Cards played a strong game that allowed them to maintain a consistent and comfortable lead throughout.

“I am expecting a competitive game on Wednesday, but if we come ready to play our game we should come out on top,” Gorman said.

Come out to support the team this tomorrow, Dec. 5, as they will be hosting Endicott College in a non-conference game at 7 p.m.

Alissa Dobrinsky can be reached at adobrinsky@wesleyan.edu.

Basketball season is in full swing, and the women’s team is off to a strong start. There have been three games this season, and although Wesleyan started with a 69-61 loss against Cabrini University at Swarthmore College on Nov. 16, they made it up the next day beating Swarthmore on the road 82-59. Then, the Cardinals followed up that decisive victory by defeating Medgar Evers College 84-38 on Nov. 20. Unfortunately, the game scheduled for Nov. 25 against Drew College was canceled and rescheduled to a future date.

There were some bright spots in the loss to Cabrini. During that game, the Cardinals’ captain Tara Berger ’19 led the game in points and rebounds. She was named NESCAC Player of the Week for her outstanding performance all throughout the weekend. Berger, a forward, had an excellent game, posting a double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

“I was really excited to receive the NESCAC Player of the Week recognition,” Berger said. “The teams and players in our conference are the best in Division III, so it was really humbling and a great honor.”

Another bright spot in the Cabrini loss was the guard Ava Tompkins ’20, who also had a notable game with three assists. Also, first-year guards Maddie Clark ’22 and Marina Petruzzi ’22 each found a way to score in their first college game.

The Birds were behind from the start as the Cavaliers scored the first five points of the game, but when the Cardinals went on a 5-0 run, a layup by Berger cut the Cavaliers’ lead, putting Wesleyan behind by only one with a score was 11-10. Cabrini kept the lead all half, winning at the end of the second quarter 32-28. It looked like the Red and Black could make a comeback in the third quarter when they opened on a 10-1 run, winning the Cards’ first lead of the game and putting the score at 38-37.

The Cardinals entered the fourth quarter in the lead, 50-44, due to a three-pointer by Emma Roush ’21 with 35 seconds left in the third quarter. The Cavaliers took back the lead in the fourth quarter and maintained it until the end of the fourth quarter, handing the Cards a 69-61 defeat.

The Red and Black recovered from the loss to Cabrini and came back to win their next two games in dominant fashion. Berger had another noteworthy game, earning her NESCAC Player of the Week. She posted a second consecutive double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. She added four assists, four blocks, and two steals to an impressive stat line.

Other leading players in the Swarthmore game included guard Caleigh Ryan ’22 with 19 points and guard Chynna Bailey ’19 with five assists. The Cardinals started off the game strong by scoring the first six points and by the end of the third quarter had built an impressive 23-10 lead. At the beginning of the second half, the Cards effectively shut down Swarthmore and ultimately went ahead by 28 points.

Wesleyan’s biggest win yet was against Medgar Evers. Five Cardinals scored in the double digits, and Berger recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Olivia Gorman ’19 led the team with 17 points. The Cardinals have made a habit of scoring the first points of the game, putting themselves in a great position from the start. By the end of the first quarter, Wes had a 21-14 lead and was winning 40-27 by the end of the half, making the chances of the Cougars catching up increasingly slim. The Red and Black started the second half with a 10-0 run and ended the third quarter leading 65-33. The Cards led all night and eventually blew-out their opponent 84-38.

The Red and Black are poised to have a very strong season, and the team is playing with confidence.

“I’m very optimistic about the rest of our season,” Berger said. “We have strong team chemistry, a great mix of leadership among the upperclassmen and some really talented underclassmen. I truly believe we will be one of the top teams in our conference and can compete for an NCAA tournament bid this year.”

The team is now 2-1 overall. It will be a few weeks until the Birds play a conference opponent, likely by design. Many NESCAC coaches schedule soft out-of-conference match-ups to prepare their squads for the trials of rival match-ups. The Cardinals play again on Saturday, Dec. 1 at home against Marywood University and then again on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at home against Endicott College. It would be great to show this talented team your support, so come out to watch this exciting team.

Alissa Dobrinksy can be reached at adobrinsky@wesleyan.edu.