Basketball Set for NEWMAC Playoffs; Host Springfield on Wednesday

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College basketball team enters the upcoming NEWMAC Tournament with the #4 seed. The Blue will host #5 Springfield on Wednesday, February 22, at 7:00pm at the Keohane Sports Center.

In accordance with NEWMAC policy, Wellesley will charge admission for the quarterfinal game. Entry fees are $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors, $1.00 for non-Wellesley students (with ID). Wellesley students (with ID) and children under 12 will be admitted free of charge. 

In two games against Springfield this season, the Blue are 1-1, winning a road game in December, 51-42, before falling in February's overtime thriller at home, 60-57.

The first time they met, Wellesley closed the game on a 12-0 run, turning a three-point deficit into a nine-point win in just over two minutes of play. Timely defense and strong free-throw shooting carried the Blue down the stretch, handing Springfield the home loss.

First-year Morgyne Weaver led the Blue with a team-high 15 points, while also adding six rebounds and two steals. Junior Malia Maier posted 12-points to go along with seven steals and two assists, while sophomore Leslie Leong chipped in with eight points and five boards.

For Springfield, Colleen Dignum was the only player to reach double figures, tallying a game-high 16 points. Behind her, junior Meghan Biondolillo tallied eight points, while senior Kelly Slattery chipped in with seven.

In the team's last meeting, Leong hit a game-tying lay-up at the buzzer to force overtime, but Springfield's Slattery took over in the extra session, handing the Pride the victory.

Slattery finished with a game-high 27 points, while adding seven rebounds and four steals. Kelly Murphy added 12 points, while Dignum tallied 10 points for the Pride, including five key points late in the second half.

For the Blue, senior Elisha Orama and Leong dropped in 12 a piece. Leong also led all players with 14 rebounds, including six at the offensive end. First-year Meghan Sargent tallied 10 points for Wellesley, while Maier chipped in seven, to go along with seven steals.

The home playoff game marks the first for the program since the 2001-02 season. This year's team also set a program record for NEWMAC wins this season (11).