Blue Basketball Powers to 58-39 Victory Over Emerson

BABSON PARK, Mass. —Wellesley College basketball raced out to a 23-8 first-half lead and never looked back, topping visiting Emerson College, 58-39, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Wednesday evening at Babson College's Staake Gymnasium. 

Wellesley earns its first NEWMAC victory of the season, improving to 1-3 in conference play and 4-7 overall. The Lions drop to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in NEWMAC play. 

The Blue got a game-high 15 points and 14 rebounds from Chelsi Scott (Portland, Mich.), as the junior recorded her second double-double of the season while finishing in double-figures for the fourth time in her last five games. Senior Morgyne Weaver (Oklahoma City, Okla.) added 13 points and five rebounds and a pair of assists. Sophomore Ailis Hanley (Cranston, R.I.) also finished in double-figures, adding ten points to go along with nine rebounds while coming off the Wellesley bench. 

Eastin Asby (Pittston, Penn.) scored a game-high eight points for the Lions, shooting 3-of-8 from the floor to lead an Emerson bench that combined to score 31 of the Lions 39 points. Maria Santora (East Hanover, N.J.) also added seven points for Emerson, while Olivia Still (Hebron, Conn.) and Elizabeth Horan (Ashland, Mass.) each chipped in with six points apiece. 

With Emerson trailing 23-8 with 6:40 to play in the first, Ashby knocked down a pair of three-pointers as part of a 9-0 Emerson run, that also included a triple from Maya Savino, as the Lions cut the Wellesley advantage to 23-17. The Blue countered with a 7-2 run, capped by a layup from Weaver at 2:48 of the first that made the score 30-19. Wellesley would eventually head to halftime with a 33-23 advantage.

In the second half, the Blue continued to grow their lead. Wellesley opened the second period with a 9-0 run, stretching their advantage to 42-25 with 14:16 left in regulation. Still eventually broke the run, countering with a bucket for the Lions, but Wellesley continued to press, eventually growing their largest lead of the game, at 58-36, with just over six minutes left to play. 

The Blue dominated the glass in the contest, collecting 49 rebounds to just 26 for the Lions while also avenging an early season 48-43 loss at Emerson on December 3rd. Wellesley shot 35 percent from the floor and 41 percent from beyond the arc, knocking down 5-of-12 three pointers en route to the 58-39 victory. 

The Blue will return to NEWMAC action on Saturday at 2:00 PM when they host WPI at Babson College. Emerson will also be in action on Saturday when they travel to Coast Guard for 3:00 PM tip-off.