Balanced Offense Leads Blue Basketball to Win over Simmons

BOSTON, Mass. -- The Wellesley College basketball team picked up its first win of the 2012-13 season, defeating the Simmons College, 49-28, in non-conference action Monday evening. The Blue (1-2), who lead by ten at halftime, took control in the second half to outshoot the Sharks (0-4) for the victory.

Early shooting woes hampered both teams, with just 12 combined points being scored in the first 11 minutes of play.  The Blue took the early advantage, going up 8-4, midway through the half, backed by five points from Malia Maier. Simmons' Hannah May cut the Wellesley edge to just one, hitting a jumper with 7:30 to play in the period. Wellesley, however, used an 8-0 run, sparked by three points each from Kendall Bianchi and Ashleigh Sargent to close out the half with a 10-point lead, at 21-11.

Maier led the Blue with seven points in the stanza, while Bianchi came off the bench to add six more. Ashleigh Sargent recorded six first-half rebounds to pace the Blue's defense. Chanel Thomas paced the Sharks defense with three rebounds and two steals.

Wellesley started the second half hot, scoring the first five points to take a 26-11 lead with 18-minutes remaining. A Nicole Alberghini jumper cut the Blue's lead to 13 (28-15) with 14:30 to play, but that's as close as Simmons would come. Wellesley shored up the victory using a 21-13 run to close out the half, with Ashleigh Sargent and Katie Shulenberger each recording five points in the stanza.

Simmons' Liz O'Connor recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. She scored eight of her 10 points in the second half to pace the Sharks offense. May finished the game with seven points, while Thomas recorded three assists and two steals.

All nine of Wellesley's active players scored at least three points for the Blue. Ashleigh Sargent led the way with eight points and 11 rebounds, while Maier added seven points, five rebounds and four assists. Bianchi, Shulenberger, Meghan Sargent, and Courtney Jackson all picked up six points. Chelsi Scott rounded out the box score with four points and 10 rebounds.

The Sharks return to action on Monday, December 3rd at Wentworth at 7:00pm, while the Blue open NEWMAC play at home versus MIT on November 28th at 7:00pm.