Clark Rallies From Early Deficit To Top Blue Basketball

WORCESTER, Mass. – Trailing 15-10 at the end of the first quarter, Clark University outscored Wellesley College basketball 55-40 over the final three quarter to take a 65-55 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) victory over Wellesley College basketball on Saturday afternoon at the Kneller Athletic Center. 

Clark earns their first NEWMAC win of the year, snapping a nine-game skid to improve to 3-10 overall and 1-4 in conference. Wellesley drops to 3-9 on the season and is also 1-4 in NEWMAC games.

Senior Chelsi Scott (Portland, Mich.) scored a game-high 19 points for the Blue, including 11 in the first quarter. Scott also pulled down six rebounds and added three blocks. Junior Ailis Hanley (Cranston, R.I.) collected a game-high nine rebounds to go along with eight points and three assists, while sophomore Kayla Jang (South Pasadena, Calif.) finished with nine points, eight rebounds and six assists. 

Three Clark players finished in double-figures, as junior Aretha Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) netted a team-high 14 points, while classmate Gwyneth Ivory (Ashland, Mass.) and sophomore Haley Wilder (Rindge, N.H.) each scored ten, respectively. Sullivan also grabbed seven rebounds, finishing one shy of first year Ogechi Ezemma's (Hope Valley, R.I.) team-high eight.

Scott was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor in the opening quarter, adding a free throw to score 11 of the Blue's 15 points in the opening frame. Wellesley opened up a 13-4 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first, before Clark buried three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to quickly close the gap to 13-10. Scott made the difference 15-10 at the end of the quarter with a jumper at the buzzer.

Wellesley continued to lead midway through the second quarter, as a triple from Jang made the score 22-14 with 4:31 to play before the half.  However, Clark countered with a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game, at 23-22, with just under a minute left in the first half. Wellesley first year Brenna Butler (Smithtown, N.Y.) added a free throw with 18 seconds left in the second to knot the score, at 23-all, but Clark first year Kacey Legare (Chicopee, Mass.) closed out the half with a three to send the hosts into the break with a 26-23 advantage.

Clark would hold the lead for the remainder of the contest, outscoring the Blue 18-14 in the third quarter and 21-18 in the fourth quarter.

Wellesley pulled back within one, at 26-25, thanks to a layup from Jang on their opening possession of the second half. The Blue stayed within range through the opening minutes of the third quarter until a triple from Sullivan with just eight seconds left in the period helped the Cougars push to a nine-point edge late in the period. Jang countered with a jumper at the buzzer to pull Wellesley back to within seven, at 44-37, at the start of the fourth.

The Blue would get no closer than four for the remainder of the contest, as Scott took advantage of a pair of free throws to make the score 49-45 with 5:54 to play. The Blue would also pull to within four when first year Zojajha Ayub (Belle Mead, N.J.) made the score 53-49 at 3:25 and again when sophomore Chelsea Brown (San Jose, Calif.) hit a layup to make the count 55-51 with exactly three minutes left. With Wellesley unable to get any closer, Clark held on for the 65-55 victory.  

The Blue will host Coast Guard on Tuesday, January 12, for a 7:00 PM NEWMAC contest. Clark will also continue NEWMAC play on Tuesday at 7:00 PM, when they travel to face MIT.