Wellesley Triumphs Over Dean, 57-14

FRANKLIN, Mass. - Wellesley College basketball overpowered Dean in a one-sided 57-14 victory on Tuesday night at Pieri Gymnasium.

Junior Jiyun Chae (Chantilly, Va.) scored 13 points for Wellesley (6-8) with a career-high six steals. Classmate Anna Greenthal (Orinda, Calif.) had ten points and a career-high seven steals, while senior Taylor Hirn (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) tied her career-high with 12 rebounds. Sophomore Maranda Cournoyer (Millville, Mass.) had a pair of steals and seven rebounds for Dean. 

Chae fired off a quick seven points with a pair of steals in the first two minutes for the Blue. A three from Greenthal later extended Wellesley's lead to 14-0. Wellesley didn't allow a point in the first quarter with seven steals as a team, led by three from Chae and two from Greenthal.

First year Yitzel Serna (Palmdale, Calif.) made it 17 unanswered points for the Blue with a three-pointer early in the second. The Bulldogs got on the board with a bucket from Cournoyer to make the score 20-2 in favor of Wellesley. A late basket from Serna gave the Blue a 29-4 lead at the half. Hirn had a team high eight rebounds in the half for Wellesley. 

Chae scored another four points early in the third in addition to a basket from Wellesley first year Shannon Li (Los Altos, Calif.) as the Blue increased their lead to 35-6. A late quarter basket from Chae and a sixth steal for Greenthal paced the Blue's 47-8 lead after three. 

The fourth quarter saw more strong defense from Wellesley with a trio of steals in the first four minutes. A pair of made free throws from Li with four minutes remaining brought Wellesley's led up to 41 at 53-12. The Blue went on to finish off a 57-14 win. Wellesley's 23 steals were the most the team had in a game since February 2020. 

The Blue will begin New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play at Coast Guard on Saturday at 1:00 PM. The Bulldogs also play Saturday at 1:00 PM on the road at Regis.