Offensive Explosion Leads Wellesley Past Clark

Wellesley gained a 4-0 advantage from the start with back-to-back steals and fast breaks by Malia Maier (Torrance, CA). After building a steady eight-point lead during the first twelve minutes of the game, the Blue pressed their edge with two consecutive three-pointers by Elisha Orama (Miramar, FL) and Maier. Kimball sunk two foul shots to lift the Blue to a 15-point lead, 33-18, at 7:54.

Clarks' Kate Minster (Manchester, England) responded with four three-pointers and six field goals of her own to chip away at the gap in the first half. However, the Blue offense kept rolling with two three-pointers apiece from Laura Barrett (Dobbs Ferry, NY) and Katie Martore (Great Falls, VA). Maier contributed six steals as Wellesley closed the first half with a 46-26, 20-point advantage.

Jillian Camilleri (Lancaster, MA) opened the second half with a lay-up for Clark. Maier of Wellesley followed with a trey and two foul shots to push the blue to a 24-point advantage at 16:57. Three Blue lay-ups by Ashleigh Sargent (Bedford, NH), Robyn Burleson (Seattle, WA), and Becca Kimball (Weston, MA) were met by a Cougar lay-up from Kelsey Johnston (Shirley, MA), leaving Wellesley a 27-point lead with 14:37 on the clock. Tight defense on both sides held the score until 11:18 when Johnston converted a conventional three-point play for the Cougars.

Even offense maintained Wellesley's advantage, resting in the twenties for the remainder of the game as both teams' scores climbed. The Clark offense kept pushing with a three from Theresa Pickens (Worcester, MA) and two from Brittany Kennedy (West Hartford, CT) in the last 39 seconds of the game, but Wellesley held on for the 19-point win. The 78-59 victory brought the Blue their second home win in a row and their highest offensive output of the season. The game also marked a season high of 10 three-pointers and a season low of 11 turnovers for the Blue.

Minister of Clark finished the game with 19 points. Teammates Pickens and Johnston contributed 13 and 8 points respectively.

Wellesley's Maier matched a career-high and NEWMAC best with 8 steals, while also leading all scorers with 20 points. The Blue got a solid 17 points from Kimball, while Barrett scored a season-high of nine points with three three-pointers. Rounding out the offense for Wellesley, Sargent finished with eight points and KD Stearns (Eustis, FL) added seven.