WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Senior Ariana Dalia tallied a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Bates women's basketball team's 71-65 win at Williams Friday night in NESCAC action.

The Bobcats (14-6, 6-3 NESCAC) pick up their most conference wins in one season since 2006-07, with one regular season game remaining. It's the team's first win at Williams (9-13, 3-6 NESCAC) since 2010.

Dalia (Brick, N.J.) shot 6-12 from the floor and was a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line on Friday. Junior captain Meghan Graff (South Portland, Maine) added 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, four steals, and two blocks. Meanwhile, junior Brianna Gadaleta (Chappaqua, N.Y.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Bobcats led by seven points at the end of the first quarter but the Ephs flipped the script in the second quarter and took a 38-37 lead over Bates into halftime.

But the Bobcat defense buckled down and held Williams to just nine points in the third quarter. 

With Bates trailing 40-39, Dalia made a pair of free throws to put the Bobcats ahead for good with 7:33 left in the third. Dalia's free throws started a 13-0 run for Bates, as Gadaleta followed with a layup and sophomore Morgan Kennedy (Oklahoma City, Okla) drilled a three to key the scoring outburst. Graff's layup with 2:54 left in the third put Bates up 52-40, the team's largest lead of the game. 

Williams battled back though and a late three from Devin Biesbrock cut the Bobcat lead to seven at 54-47 through three quarters.

The Ephs cut the Bates edge to five early in the fourth quarter before Dalia drilled just her second three-pointer of the season, making the score 57-49 with 8:22 remaining in regulation. 

Bates went back up by double figures on a Graff three with 6:56 left and kept the Ephs at arm's length down the stretch. The Ephs didn't get to within closer than eight points the rest of the way until there was less than a minute remaining in the game. 

Maggie Meehan paced Williams with a game-high 24 points on 10-22 shooting. Maddy Mandyck recorded a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. She also blocked five shots. Arianna Gerig also recorded a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Once again, Bates dominated the glass, recording 54 rebounds to Williams' 35. The Bobcats finished with 21 second chance points while holding Williams to 13 second chance points. The Bobcats also made two more three-point attempts than Williams, which turned out to be the margin of victory for Bates.

The Bobcats will be battling for a home NESCAC quarterfinal game Saturday when they visit Middlebury for a 3pm tip.