Posted: Dec 30, 2013
Wellesley Basketball Tops Wesleyan in Non-Conference Clash
Wellesley
(6-2)
60
Wesleyan (Conn.)
(7-3)
46
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wellesley (6-2) | 26 | 34 | 60 |
|
Wesleyan (Conn.) (7-3) | 25 | 21 | 46 |
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- In the first meeting of the teams since 2000, the Wellesley College basketball team broke a 29-29 tie early in the second half, igniting an 18-4 run that helped seal the Blue's 60-46 road win over Wesleyan University on Monday evening in Middletown.
The victory improved Wellesley to 6-2 on the year, while Wesleyan moves to 7-3 overall. The Blue are now 12-6 all-time vs. Wesleyan.
The first half was tightly played, with neither team creating more than a four-point advantage. The half featured five ties and four lead changes, with the Blue holding a slim 26-25 edge at the break.
Wellesley was paced by 10 points from junior Morgyne Weaver in the first half, while senior Leslie Leong added eight, as the team shot 39% from the field. Wesleyan's Amber Wessell led the Cardinal with seven first half points.
Hitting a jumper from the lane at the 14:45 mark of the second half, Blue junior Natalie Anderson broke a 29-29 deadlock, giving Wellesley the lead for good. The Blue then went 7-for-13 from the field over the next seven minutes while holding the Cardinals to a three-pointer and a free throw en route to a 47-33 advantage with 7:35 left.
Wesleyan got no closer than 10 the rest of the way. Wellesley surged to a 17-point spread late in the game, before sealing the 14-point road win.
For Wellesley, Anderson finished with 15 points, a season-high, which led all players. Leong ended with a double-double for the Blue with 13 points and 13 rebounds in the game, while Weaver also aided the Wellesley offense with 14 points.
Blue junior Meghan Sargent had all seven of her points in the game during the decisive second-half stretch for Wellesley, while senior Katie Shulenberger added five of her seven points during the run as well.
Wesleyan got 11 points from junior Jess Cherenza and nine from senior Amber Wessells. Junior Cherkira Lashley paced the hosts with seven caroms.
Up next for Wellesley is a home NEWMAC contest against MIT on Saturday at 1:00pm. Wesleyan also is back in action Saturday, hosting non-conference rival Franklin and Marshall at 3:00pm.