Basketball Notches First Win of the Season at Simmons, 45-33

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior forward Morgyne Weaver recorded a double-double, leading all players with 22 points and 11 rebounds, as Wellesley College basketball earned its first victory of the season, 45-33, over host Simmons College at Moore Gymnasium. The Blue now stand at 1-2 on the season, while the Sharks fall to 0-3.

Weaver was 9-of-14 from the floor and added a steal for the Blue, while senior forward Meghan Sargent chipped in with six points, five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals. Sophomore forward Ailis Hanley also contributed with two points, a rebound and a steal to go with a game-high six assists.

Sophomore forward Liz Brasa led the Sharks with nine points and nine rebounds to go with a steal and an assist, while sophomore forward AshleyMcAdams finished with eight points, four rebounds, two steals, an assist and a blocked shot. Junior guard Jennifer Janiak netted eight points and added a steal, a rebound and a career-high two blocks. First year forward Presley Silva helped out with six rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocked shots.

Wellesley never trailed in the contest while forcing Simmons into 30 turnovers. The Blue hit five of their first six shots to jump out to a 12-2 lead in the first seven minutes of the contest, led by six points from Weaver. 

Wellesley later maintained a 16-6 advantage with 9:32 to play in the half, before Simmons went on a 12-5 run, led by five points from Janiak, to cut the deficit to 21-18 with 1:38 remaining in the opening half. The Blue scored the final four points of the period to take a 25-18 lead into the intermission.

Wellesley scored seven of the first 10 points after the break to increase its lead to 32-21 at the 12:58 mark of the second half, before McAdams hit a jumper and sophomore guard Kelsey Heavener converted a fast break layup to pull the Sharks to within 32-25 with 11:13 to play in the contest. 

Simmons would get no closer, as the Blue went on a 9-2 burst, capped by a three-pointer from senior guard Natalie Anderson, to take their largest lead of the night at 41-27 with 6:25 remaining in the game. 

Wellesley will look to make it two in-a-row when they travel to Waterville, Maine on November 22 to take on Westfield State University in the first round of the Colby Invitational at 7:00 PM. Simmons returns to action on Tuesday, November 25 when it hosts Lesley University at 7:00 PM.