Wellesley Basketball Earns 59-50 Win Over Worcester State

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Arla Hofer (Las Vegas, Nev.) and first year Trinity Barrow (Evans, Ga.) combined for 31 points and each shot seven-for-10 from the field as Wellesley College basketball brought its win streak to three with a 59-50 non-conference win over Worcester State University at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Barrow had 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and three assists for the Blue (4-3 Overall) and Hofer scored 15 points with five rebounds. First year Mirella Funari (Phoenix, Ariz.) pulled down nine boards and senior Jiyun Chae (Chantilly, Va.) assisted on five baskets while recording four steals.

Sophomore Cameron Watkins (Dracut, Mass.) paced the Lancers (1-7 Overall) with 12 points and nine rebounds. Senior Katie Hurynowicz (Tyngsboro, Mass.) put up nine points and tied for the game high with 10 rebounds and four steals while sophomore Sierra Francis (Marlborough, Mass.) contributed four assists.

Wellesley led 10-1 after seven minutes of play, with four different team members scoring. The Lancers went on a 7-1 run in the span of the next minute, and trailed 17-8 after one quarter.

Both teams exchanged baskets early in the second quarter, with the Blue's lead ranging from nine to 13. Wellesley scored the final six points of the quarter to go up 33-17 by halftime.

A made layup from Hurynowicz got Worcester State's deficit back down to 10 at the 6:37 mark of the third quarter before Wellesley launched an offensive barrage. The Blue's lead swelled to 19 near the 2:30 mark but the Lancers finished the quarter with a 7-0 stretch, capped off by a three pointer from first year Lena Wadron (Quincy, Mass.), and Wellesley led 49-37 after three quarters.

The Lancers started the fourth quarter hot, scoring six unanswered points in two and a half minutes before the Blue regained its composure. Worcester State never got closer than six, with a Blue jumper from Hofer giving Wellesley a 10 point lead with four minutes remaining. Strong defense helped the Blue finish out a 59-50 game.

Wellesley went 26-for-69 (37.7%) from the floor while holding Worcester State to 20-for-68 (29.4%) shooting. The Lancers outrebounded the Blue 50-42 and scored 16 second chance points.

Both teams will next compete on Tuesday, December 5 at 7:00 PM. The Blue finish up a three-game homestand against Lasell and the Lancers travel to Springfield to take on the Pride.