Blue Basketball Comes Up Short against Kean, 81-69

WALTHAM, Mass. – First year Gissel Gamble (Somerset, N.J.) had a game-high 24 points, including six made three pointers, to help Kean defeat Wellesley College basketball 81-69 in the consolation game of the Judges Invitational on Saturday at Red Auerbach Arena.

Classmate Riley Ahrens (Delran, N.J.) and junior Macy Seaman (Elizabethtown, Pa.) added 16 and 12 points respectively for the Cougars (1-2 Overall). Seaman and grad student Shahd Badeer (Clifton, N.J.) both pulled down eight rebounds while senior Brittany Graff (Elmwood Park, N.J.) earned five steals and assisted on seven baskets.

First year Mirella Funari (Phoenix, Ariz.) had a 17 points-10 assists double-double and added eight rebounds and five steals for the Blue (1-2 Overall). Funari was named to the Judges Invitational All-Tournament Team. 

Senior Jiyun Chae (Chantilly, Va.), junior Sairah O'Brien-Forde (Binghamton, N.Y.), and first year Trinity Barrow (Evans, Ga.) all had double-digit points for Wellesley. Barrow snatched up five steals while classmate Anna Bandini (Raleigh, N.C.) blocked four shots.

The Cougars opened the game with nine straight points, including five from Gamble. Kean took advantage of 10-for-21 (47.6%) shooting in the first quarter to lead 22-10 after one quarter. 

The Blue cut the deficit to eight by the middle of the second quarter before Gamble hit a three to halt the momentum swing. A late 4-0 run capped off by a layup from Ahrens gave Kean a 37-20 lead at the half.

A 6-0 run by Wellesley including two baskets from Funari got the game back to 12 at 40-28 before the Cougars' offense unleashed a 15-2 run late in the third quarter. 

Wellesley scored 33 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 points on five-for-six shooting from O'Brien-Forde, though the team was unable to get the deficit back down to single digits as Kean closed out an 81-69 victory.

Despite the setback, Wellesley shot a robust 28-for-57 from the floor (49.1%) and 12-for-14 from the free throw line (85.7%).

Up next, the Blue return home to host Wesleyan at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 18 while Kean travels to Brooklyn College at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 15.