Second Quarter Run Helps Babson Past Blue Basketball, 62-41

BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Babson College used a 12-0 run late in the second quarter to break open a one-point game and take a 62-41 win over Wellesley College basketball in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Thursday evening at Staake Gymnasium. 

Babson jumps to 9-5 overall and 5-1 in conference action, while Wellesley slides to 3-11 on the season and 1-6 NEWMAC play.

Sophomore Kayla Jang (South Pasadena, Calif.) and first year Brenna Butler (Smithtown, N.Y.) each scored 11 points to lead Wellesley. Jang also added six rebounds and three assists, while senior Chelsi Scott (Portland, Mich.) scored five points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Classmate Alex Berman (Tucson, Ariz.) added seven points off the bench. 

Junior Giovanna Pickering (Hull, Mass.) finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals to pace the Beavers. Junior Taylor Russell (Braintree, Mass.) scored 10 points, senior Linnett Graber (Roseland, N.J.) added eight points and seven rebounds, and sophomore Brenna LeGacy (Attleboro, Mass.) chipped in with seven boards.

Babson got out to an early 6-2 lead, before Butler knocked down a triple at 5:25 of the first to make the score 6-5. Back-to-back Babson buckets saw the hosts take a 10-5 advantage, until Jang knocked down another three-pointer to make the score 10-8 at 3:03. The Blue then added the final three-points of the quarter, thanks to a free throw from Berman and a layup from Jang, to carry an 11-10 lead into the second quarter. 

Jang put Wellesley up 12-10 with a free throw at 7:49 of the second, before Pickering responded with the first of three-straight baskets, while Berman added a Wellesley triple, to make the score 16-15. Graber and Scott then exchanged baskets to make the score 18-17 at 3:28. Babson then embarked on a 12-0 run to close out the half, as Russell capped the surge with a layup as time expired to send the Beavers into halftime with a 30-17 advantage. 

Only two points separated the sides in the third quarter, as Babson outscored the Blue 16-14. Wellesley knocked the Babson lead down to 14, at 50-36, with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. However, a 9-0 run from the hosts stretched the Babson lead to its largest margin, at 59-36, with just 1:48 left in regulation. From there, Babson continued on to take the 62-41 win. 

Wellesley hit a season-best nine three-pointers in the contest but shot just 29.4 percent from the floor. On the glass, Babson held on to a 46-40 advantage. 

Wellesley will be off this weekend before continuing NEWMAC play next Wednesday, January 20, at 7:00 PM versus Wheaton. Babson will host Coast Guard on Saturday at 1:00 PM.