Wellesley Basketball Dominates in 80-57 Win Over Norwich

NORWICH, Vermont -- Four different Blue members scored in double figures as Wellesley downed Norwich 80-57 on day two of the Ed Hockenbury Classic.

The Blue snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 2-7 for the season. Norwich falls to 3-4 overall.

Sophomore guard Anna Greenthal (Orinda, Calif.) set the tone for Wellesley, dropping 22 points including 8-of-8 from the foul line. Senior Valentina Morakis (Long Island, N.Y.) finished with 16 points with five made field goals. Off the bench, sophomore Elle Petra (Guilford, Conn.) scored a career high 16 points and added eight rebounds and three blocks. Also in double figures was Taylor Hirn (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) with 11 points and five boards.

For Norwich, first year Haley Brewster (Virginia Beach, Va.) scored a game-high 29 points and brought down 12 rebounds. Forward Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) tallied 12 points and four rebounds.

Trailing by one halfway through the first quarter, Wellesley sparked a 10-0 run, with six points coming from the charity stripe. The Blue would extend its lead to double figures after Greenthal knocked down a three ball with 1:13 to go. Wellesley would hold an 11 point lead after one. To begin the second quarter, Brewster knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead back to single digits. The Blue refused to let Norwich back into the contest, and back to back buckets by Hirn and Greenthal gave Wellesley a 20 point lead. Going into the break the Blue held a 45-29 advantage.

Out of the locker room, Greenthal would score the first four points to hold the lead. At the 4:32 mark, sophomore Gina Fiore (Reading, Pa.) made a pair of free throws as the Blue led 55-38. As a team, Wellesley outscored Norwich 21-16 in the third including 11 free throws made. Within the first minute of the fourth quarter, Petra knocked down another three-pointer. Junior Lily Forrester (Hamilton, Va.) got into the action making two free throws and giving Wellesley a comfortable 70-45 lead with 7:45 to play. A made free throw from Camille Taylor (Boston, Mass.) gave the Blue its 80th point and the second victory of the season.

The Blue turned its defense into offense, scoring 25 points off of turnovers compared to just five for Norwich. As a team, Wellesley shot 43.4% (23-of-53) from the floor and knocked down a season high 31 free throws. Norwich finished just 4-of-19 from downtown.

Wellesley returns back home on Tuesday, December 7 to face New England College with tip-off at 6:00 PM. Norwich will take on Eastern Nazarene on Thursday, December 9 at 6:00 PM.