LEWISTON, Maine -- Coming out of intermission trailing by a pair, Williams College exited the locker room freshly strategized as the Ephs outscored host Bates College 26-16 in the third frame, setting the stage for a 61-51 NESCAC women's basketball victory Saturday in Alumni Gymnasium.
Williams pushes to 14-7 (5-2 NESCAC) with the triumph while the garnet and white sees its record even at 9-9 (2-4 NESCAC) after the setback.
In a contest that sputtered at the start, it would be the Ephs that would come out of a low-scoring initial period owning an 11-6 advantage. The Bobcats got the blood flowing in the second quarter, connecting on four three-pointers to win the session, 18-11, and enter the half with a 24-22 surplus.
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Jenna Berens (Durham, Conn.) three-ball 46 seconds into third put Bates ahead by five at 27-22, providing the Bobcats their largest lead of the afternoon. The road team responded immediately as Williams went on a 11-6 push to tie the contest at 33 with 5:13 on the clock.
With the score knotted at 35-all one minute later (4:13), The Ephs enjoyed a 13-5 run to close the period with a 48-40 cushion.
Williams never looked back from that point, inflating its lead to a game-high 14 points (54-40) with 3:50 remaining in regulation, and not permitting the Bobcats to within less than seven at any point during the quarter.
Even after not connecting on her first field goal of the afternoon until 22 seconds before halftime, senior star
Meghan Graff (Sr.-South Portland, Maine) still managed to lead the Bobcats in scoring with 12 points on the day.
Alexandra Long (So.-Newton, Pa.) drained three three-balls in 31 minutes off the Bates' bench, finished the game with 11 total points.
Berens drilled two three's of her own in an eight-point performance. The senior forward also tied
Elsa Daulerio (Fy.-Harpswell, Maine) with a team-high seven boards.
The trio of Arianna Gerig (18), Maddy Mandyck (16), and Mia Holtze (15) combined to net 49 of the Ephs' 61 points in the win. Gerig and Mandyck also recorded four blocks apiece while Mandyck added 14 rebounds for a double-double.
The Bobcats head to Brunswick on Friday for their next action as Bates and Bowdoin College square off in another NESCAC battle. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m.
