Blue Basketball Can't Keep Pace at Wheaton

NORTON, Mass. -- Wheaton College opened the game on a 13-0 run en route to a 72-42 victory over Wellesley College women's basketball on Thursday evening in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play at Emerson Gymnasium. Wheaton improves to 10-5 on the season and 6-1 in NEWMAC play, the Blue drop to 5-9 and 2-5 in conference. 

Three starters finished in double-figures for the Lyons, who have now won five straight NEWMAC contests. Senior Abbie Brickley (Sandy, Utah) led all scorers with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor. Brickley also added a game-high nine rebounds to go along with three assists. Fellow senior Kirsten Ferrari (Lynn, Mass.) dished out a game-high nine assists while also adding 10 points. Junior Kiley Shoemaker (Fayetteville, N.Y.) added 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists a steal and a pair of blocks for the Lyons. 

Blue senior Morgyne Weaver (Oklahoma City, Okla.) finished as the only Wellesley player in double-figures, scoring a team-high 12 points. Sophomore Ailis Hanley (Cranston, R.I.) chipped in nine points and four rebounds off the bench, while senior Meghan Sargent (Bedford, N.H.) and junior Chelsi Scott (Portland, Mich.) each collected seven rebounds in the contest. First year Kayla Jang (South Pasadena, Calif.) also added six points and seven assists.

Wheaton knocked down its first six shots of the contest, taking a 16-3 lead at 16:29 thanks to and-one from Shoemaker at 16:29. The teams exchanged baskets on the next two possessions, as the Lyons minted a 13-point advantage until Hanley scored back-to-back buckets to pull Wellesley to within nine, at 21-12, with 12:43 left in the first. 

The nine point deficit was as close as the Blue would get for the remainder of the half as the Lyons would outscore the Blue 17-6 over the final 12 minutes of the first to take a 38-18 lead into the half. 

After the break, the Lyons continued to roll. A layup from Weaver at 13:36 of the second knocked the Wheaton advantage under 20 for the first time since the opening half but Ferrari countered on the Lyons next possession to make the score 50-29 in favor of the hosts. Wheaton would go on to take the final 72-42. 

Wellesley will now look to Saturday afternoon, as the Blue host Springfield in a NEWMAC contest at 5:00 PM at Babson College's Staake Gymnasium. Wheaton will also continue NEWMAC play when they host Smith at 1:00 PM.