Basketball Tops Westfield State, 56-47, at Colby Classic

WATERVILLE, Maine --- Three different players finished in double figures to lead Wellesley College basketball to a 56-47 victory over Westfield State University on the first day of the Colby College Women's Basketball Classic on Saturday at Wadsworth Gymnasium.

Senior Morgyne Weaver recorded a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds to pace the Blue. Sophomore Ailis Hanley shot 5-for-6 from the field, coming off the Blue bench to contribute 12 points. Hanley also blocked a pair of shots in the contest. Senior Natalie Anderson added 10 points, while first year Kayla Jang also scored nine points and had a team-high four assists.

Keri Doldoorian was the lone Owl in double figures, finishing with 13 points on game-high 21 attempts from the field. Forbasaw Nkamebo also added eight points and seven rebounds, while Jen Ashton led all players with eight assists.

The Blue opened up an early six-point lead, at 11-5, thanks to a jumper from Weaver at 9:06 of the first. However, the Owls followed with an 8-2 run to tie the contest at 13-all with 4 minutes to play before the break. 

Neither team was able to find separation through the next three minutes, until the Blue, now leading 21-20, opened up a 23-20 advantage. Weaver knocked down a pair of free throws and a three-pointer before senior Meghan Sargent knocked down the second of two free throws to make the score 27-20. 

Doldoorian then knocked down a three at the buzzer to make the score 27-23 at the break.

In the second half, Wellesley grew its advantage, eventually leading by 12, at 37-25, just over five minutes after the half. However, Westfield State battled back, eventually tying the contest at 42-all with 7:28 left in regulation. 

With the score knotted for the first time since the four minute mark of the first half, Wellesley senior Kendall Bianchi hit a three-pointer, and her only field goal of the game, to spark a 14-5 run over the final five minutes to help the Blue close out the 56-47 victory. 

In games that were predetermined, Wellesley will face Colby at 3 p.m. Sunday in what amounts to the title game. Colby beat MIT in the other game Saturday. Westfield State and MIT meet at 1 p.m.