Blue Hoops Scores 50-48 OT Victory Over Colby-Sawyer at WSU Holiday Tournament

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior Chelsi Scott (Portland, Mich.) knocked down a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Wellesley College basketball to a 50-48 victory over Colby-Sawyer College on day one of the Westfield State Holiday Tournament.

Wellesley, winners of back-to-back contests, improves to 3-6 on the season. Colby-Sawyer drops to 5-4 overall with the setback.

Scott totaled game-highs in points, with 17, and rebounds, with 15, as her double-double led the way for Wellesley. Junior Ailis Hanley (Cranston, R.I.) and sophomore Kayla Jang (South Pasadena, Calif.) also finished in double figures for the Blue with 11 points each. Hanley added 10 boards to record her first double-double of the season.

Colby-Sawyer junior Kristin Ellis (South Easton, Mass.) scored a team-high nine points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Jessica Shenkel (Sharon, Mass.) added eight points, while classmate Katie McCarthy (Mansfield, Mass.) added seven for the Chargers.

McCarthy forced the extra session when she knocked down a jumper with 28 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 43-all. The jumper capped a back-and-forth four quarters that featured nine ties and ten lead changes.

Jang opened the overtime with a three-pointer on the Blue's first possession, giving Wellesley a 46-43 advantage. Wellesley stretched the advantage to five points with 2:40 left in the period, when Hanley knocked down a jumper on an assist from Scott.

The Chargers countered with five points of their own, tying the score at 48-all with just over a minute to play, when Ellis hit a jumper and Shenkel buried a triple on back-to-back possessions.

With the Blue in possession and under 30-seconds remaining, Scott got an open look underneath but couldn't get the shot to fall. Wellesley's captain then grabbed her own rebound before getting fouled. Scott capitalized on her opportunity at the line, knocking down both free throws to put Wellesley ahead for good, 50-48.

The Blue held a 54-39 advantage on the glass, shooting 36 percent from the floor and outscoring the Chargers 24-8 in the paint in the contest.

Wellesley will play tournament host Westfield State in the championship game tomorrow at 3:00 PM. Colby-Sawyer will take on Saint Joseph University in the consolation final at 1:00 PM. Westfield State defeated Saint Joseph 119-69 in the first game on Saturday.