Blue Basketball Can’t Erase Early Deficit in 50-38 Setback at Emerson

BOSTON, Mass. – Despite a game-high 16 points from senior Chelsi Scott (Portland, Mich.), Wellesley College basketball dropped a 50-38 decision to Emerson College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Wednesday night at Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gym. 

The Lions, now winners of four of their last five games, improve to 7-10 on the year and 4-6 in the NEWMAC. Wellesley dips to 3-14 and 1-9 in conference play.

Scott added a team-high eight rebounds and a game-high seven steals to her twelfth double-digit point total of the year. Sophomore Kayla Jang (South Pasadena, Calif.) finished in double-figures for the fifth time in as many games, scoring ten points while grabbing five rebounds. First year Brenna Butler (Smithtown, N.Y.) added seven points and a pair of blocks for the Blue.

Emerson first year Natalie Busch (Weybridge, England) scored a team-high 10 points off the Lions' bench. Junior Elizabeth Horan (Ashland, Mass.) added nine points for the hosts, while senior Kelsey Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.) finished two points shy of a double-double with eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Johnson also dished out four assists for the Lions.

Jang staked Wellesley to their only lead of the game with a three-pointer on the Blue's second possession. Emerson countered with an 8-0 run, before Jang hit another triple at 6:50 to make the score 8-6. The Lions then scored 11 of the final 15 points in the quarter, capping the period when Busch knocked down a three in the final seconds to give Emerson an early 19-10 advantage.

Only a pair of points separated the sides in the second quarter, as Emerson used an 11-9 advantage to take a 30-19 lead into the break.

The Blue mounted their best effort to erase the Emerson lead in the third quarter, limiting the Lions to eight points and just three field goals to shrink the deficit to seven, at 38-31, at the end of the stanza. Scott knocked down five free throws in the quarter, while Butler hit on a pair of attempts from the floor, including one from long distance.

Emerson stretched the lead to nine in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, before Scott countered with two more free throws and Jang hit a layup to pull Wellesley back within five, at 40-35, with 6:09 to play. Another Scott free throw would get the Blue within four, at 40-36, before the Wellesley rally stalled. Emerson went on to outscore the Blue 10-2 over the final five minutes of the contest to take the 50-38 win.

Emerson shot 32.7 percent from floor while holding a 40-29 advantage on the glass. Wellesley held on to an advantage in the turnover department, forcing 17 takeaways while surrendering just ten Emerson steals.

The Blue return home on Saturday, January 30, at 2:00 PM, as they will continue conference play versus Clark. Emerson will travel to Coast Guard for a 1:00 PM NEWMAC game on Saturday.