Second Half Rally Falls Short as Emerson Defeats Blue Basketball, 48-43

BOSTON, Mass. -- Wellesley College basketball outscored Emerson College 33-21 in the second half but a furious rally came up just short, as the Lions defeated the Blue, 48-43, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym on Wednesday evening. 

The Blue drop to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in NEWMAC play. Emerson improves to 4-1 overall and is 1-0 in the conference, following the first NEWMAC women's basketball game of the season. 

Wellesley senior Morgyne Weaver recorded her third double-double of the season, tying for game-high honors with 15 points while also collecting a game-high 13 rebounds. Sophomore Ailis Hanley chipped in eight points for the Blue, all in the second half, while both first year Kayla Jang and senior Meghan Sargent added six points apiece. Junior Chelsi Scott also grabbed eight rebounds. Both Scott and Jang grabbed three steals in the contest, while Jang and Kendall Bianchi each recorded three assists for the Blue.

Emerson first year guard Eastin Ashby also finished with a game-high 15 points, coming off the the bench to shoot 3-6 from three-point range and 6-12 from the floor. Senior Catherine Cloutier also finished in double-figures, adding ten points and collecting five rebounds. Junior Janissa Delzo scored nine points while dishing out a game-high four assists and tying for team-high honors with six rebound. First year Sierra Ducey also grabbed six boards to go along with four steals and three assists. 

The host Lions outscored the Blue 27-10 in the first half. Trailing 5-3 in the opening minutes, Emerson went on a 13-0 run sparked by three-consecutive three-pointers from Ashby. The Lions then capped the run with a Kristin Brice layup at 9:15 to take a 16-5 advantage. Emerson then outscored Wellesley 11-5 over the final nine minutes to enter the half with a 17 point advantage. 

After the break, the Blue chipped away at the deficit, eventually cutting the Emerson lead to single digits on a jumper from Weaver with 5:41 remaining in regulation. Cloutier countered with a basket on Emerson's next possession but Jang made one-of-two free throws on Wellesley's next possession and Weaver followed a defensive stop with another bucket to cut the deficit to 43-35 with 4:41 left.

Delzo then split a pair of free throws at 3:53 to give the Lions a 44-35 advantage before Jang made two free throws and Hanley added a basket to cut the Emerson lead to just five, at 44-39, with 2:29 to play. 

Delzo and Weaver then exchanged free throws, as the score increased to 46-41with just over a minute to play. The Blue would then cut the deficit to just three points, thanks to a free throw from Scott at 1:04 and another from Sargent with 47 seconds to play. However, the Blue would get no closer than 46-43 as a pair of Cloutier free throws were the only points in the remaining 47 seconds of the 48-43 Emerson victory.

Wellesley will return to action on Saturday when they host Coast Guard in a NEWMAC contest at 6:00 PM at Babson College's Staake Gymnasium. Emerson will play at Lasell in a non-conference matchup on Saturday at 2:00 PM.