Nationally Ranked Babson Needs Late Rally to Top Wellesley Basketball

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The 22nd-ranked Babson College women's basketball team needed a late rally to top Wellesley College, 52-48, on Wednesday evening in the Keohane Sports Center. The win keeps the Beavers perfect in NEWMAC play, improving to 18-2 overall (13-0 NEWMAC), while Wellesley's seven-game win streak was snapped, dipping the hosts to 10-7 overall, 9-4 in the conference play.

Wellesley held a lead as late as 6:20 to go in the contest, before sharp-shooting from Erin Young turned things around for Babson. With the Blue ahead 41-40, Young connected on threes in consecutive trips down the court, putting the Beavers up 46-43 with five minutes to play and swinging the momentum in Babson's favor. Wellesley made some noise over the final five minutes of play, but Babson used solid free throw shooting from Allanah Wynn to seal the victory.

Babson was hot out of the gate, taking a nine-point lead after five minutes of play. Sarah Collins recorded six points in the opening minutes, as the Beavers built a 13-4 advantage.

Wellesley responded with tight defense, utilizing a strong press to force five Babson turnovers, while putting together 15-6 run of its own. A pair of free throws from the Blue's Morgyne Weaver completed the comeback, knotting the game at 19-19 with 5:00 to play in the half.

A three from Babson's Briana Hunt stopped the bleeding for the Beavers at the 4:38 mark, but again Wellesley responded. A Leslie Leong three highlighted another Blue run, as Wellesley outscored Babson 7-2 over the final minutes of the half, carrying a 26-24 advantage into the break.

Collins and Weaver each led their squads with six points at the half, while Wellesley's Malia Maier and Leong recorded five points each for the Blue. Babson's first half effort also included five assists from Megan Otto and four points from Wynn.

Wellesley held on to its lead through the first three minutes of the second half, as a Courtney Jackson jumper put the Blue up 29-26. Babson was able to wrestle away two more leads before Wellesley took control on a lay-up from Anderson to make it 33-32 at the 11:56 mark.

The hosts then held their lead until the first of Young's late threes put the Beavers up 43-41 with 6:19 on the clock. Wellesley knotted it up at 43-43 with a Jackson lay-up before Young again knocked down a three and Babson took the lead for good.

Young's second three sparked a string of nine straight points for the Beavers, as they opened up a seven point advantage. Wellesley was able to get the Babson lead down to four points (52-48) on a deep Leong three with 45 seconds remaining, but Babson forced turnovers in both of Wellesley's final possessions, keeping the final score at 52-48.

Collins led the Beavers with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, while Young totaled nine points in the win. Wynn chipped in eight points and three assists, with Megan Otto tallying a team-high seven assists and four blocks. Babson passed crisply as a team, leading Wellesley in assists 19-9.

For the Blue, Leong recorded a team-high 12 points while grabbing four rebounds. Jackson scored eight while recording three boards and two steals. Weaver tallied seven points and snatched four steals, while Anderson tallied a team-high five rebounds and scored five points.

Wellesley's four-point margin was closest final score of Babson's 78-game winning streak against NEWMAC opponents dating back to 2009. Prior to tonight's contest, the Beavers' smallest margin of victory was five points, which came in their 61-56 win over WPI in the NEWMAC Championship Game on February 28, 2010.

Both squads return to NEWMAC action on Saturday at 1:00pm, when Babson hosts Wheaton and Wellesley travels to Clark.