Late Rally Falls Short as Springfield Defeats Blue Basketball

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Senior Rachelle Walker and rookie Tamara Tribble came off the bench to lead the Springfield College women's basketball team to a 61-48 victory over NEWMAC-rival Wellesley on Saturday afternoon at the Keohane Sports Center.  The win lifts the Pride to 3-9 overall, 4-2 in the NEWMAC, while Wellesley falls to 7-5 overall with a 4-2 conference mark.

Walker tallied 15 total points in the game, while Tribble ended the game with 10 points, 14 rebounds.  However, it was their second-half performances that helped nip a late rally by Wellesley and seal the victory for the Pride.  After seeing a lead of as much as 12 points disappear, Walker posted nine points in the final 10 minutes of play, while Tribble added eight rebounds and six points to turn things around in the second half.

Springfield opened the game on a 20-8 run, building their 12-point advantage through the first 15 minutes of the half.  Wellesley cut the lead to seven at 24-17 on a three from Leslie Leong, but Walker answered with a three of her own to increase the SC lead back to 10 with two minutes remaining in the half. 

However, the Blue chipped away, pulling to within six as Ashleigh Sargent and Leong each connected on two free throws to close the half with Springfield carrying a 27-21 lead into the break.

Wellesley opened the second half with an 14-4 run taking its first lead of the game at 35-32 with 10:59 remaining.  The Blue were aided by strong three-point shooting, as Elisha Orama hit a pair of threes and Katie Shulenberger and Leong sank one apiece in the strech.

From that point on, however, Springfield's Walker and Tribble took over, as the Pride closed out the game with a 29-13 run, handing the visitors the 61-48 victory.

Aside from Walker and Tribble, Springfield got 14 points from Kelly Slattery, while Abby Connors added nine of her own.  Rounding out the box score, Kelly Murphy finished with four assists and two steals for the Pride.

Wellesley was led by 16 points and eight rebounds from Leong, while Orama added a season-high 13 points and five assists.  Becca Kimball finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Springfield is back in action at home on Wednesday at 7:00pm taking on Coast Guard.  Wellesley next travels to Babson to face the NEWMAC's top team in a 7:00pm clash.