Sargent Scores 27 as Blue Basketball Opens 2011-12

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Junior Ashleigh Sargent poured in a career-high 27 points to lead the Wellesley College basketball team to a 64-35 win over Wilson College on the opening day of the Vassar College Tip-Off Tournament.

The win gives Wellesley a 1-0 start to the 2011-12 season and advances the Blue to the tournament's championship game against Vassar. Wilson dips to 0-1, and will play Cedar Crest in the consolation game.

Sargent needed just 17 minutes of action to tally her 27 points. She connected on 13 of 15 shots from the field, while also adding her first collegiate three pointer. Sargent rounded out her stat line with eight rebounds and a steal.

The Blue jumped out to a 17-2 lead and never looked back, holding a 39-10 advantage at the break. Sargent contributed 19 first-half points, while first-year Morgyne Weaver chipped in with six, as the Blue shot 53% from the field. Wellesley continued to pour on the offense in the second half, setting the final score to 64-35.

After Sargent, Wellesley was paced by 13 points, five rebounds and five steals from Weaver, while sophomore Leslie Leong contributed five points and a game-high of 12 boards. Junior Malia Maier rounded out the stat sheet with nine assists and eight steals, while first-year Courtney Jackson added five points.

Wilson was led by 11 points each from Vanessa Whitfield and Tara Fields, with Ashlee Yealy adding eight. Whitfield had a team-high six rebounds while also adding six steals. 

Tomorrow's consolation game featuring Cedar Crest and Wilson will start at 1:00pm. Wellesley will play Vassar at 3:00pm for the Championship.