King, Babson Rule Over Wellesley Basketball
BABSON PARK, Mass. – First-year forward Kathleen King (Framingham, MA) matched her career high with 24 points to lead the host Babson College Beavers to a convincing 78-44 victory over crosstown rival Wellesley College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball game at Staake Gymnasium on Wednesday night. With the win, Babson improved to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference, while the Blue slipped to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in the NEWMAC.
King was dominant in the paint for the Beavers, finishing with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and a 6-of-7 slip from the line to go with nine rebounds and three steals. First-year Michelle Kenel (Rockaway Beach, NY) came off the bench to add a career-high 16 points in the winning effort, while junior reserve Sarah Hughes (Wellesley, MA) chipped in with nine points and nine boards. Sophomore Renay Hamilton (Lynn, MA) added an outstanding all-around performance at point guard, finishing with six points, seven rebounds, and seven assists while committing zero turnovers, and first-year Nicole Wurdeman (Rowley, MA) tossed in 10 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. As a team, Babson shot 49.2 percent from the floor and 82.4 percent from the free throw line.
Wellesley was paced by senior tri-captain Jessica Duff (Milton, Abington, UK), who recorded team-highs of 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, and senior tri-captain Julia Thomas (Concord, CA), who added 10 points and four boards. Senior tri-captain Courtney Richter (Sinking Spring, PA) chipped in with six points and three boards for the Blue, who shot just 23.3 percent in the first half and 27.3 percent for the game.
Duff opened the scoring with a lay-up in the first minute of play, but that would prove to be Wellesley's only lead of the contest as King and Wurdeman combined to score 10 straight points over the next four minutes. The hosts continued to expand their advantage throughout the period and eventually headed into the locker room armed with a 39-18 cushion. King scored 19 of her 24 in the first half, while Kenel added nine points off the bench, including a pair of three-pointers.
Wellesley never threatened in the second half, as Babson's lead ballooned to as many as 37 after a three-pointer by sophomore Tracy Ericson (Pepperell, MA) with seven minutes left en route to the 78-44 win.
Both teams return to NEWMAC action this Saturday. Babson hosts Smith at 1 p.m., while Wellesley travels to Wheaton for a 2 p.m. matchup.