Team Effort Gives Blue a 55-48 Win Over Colby-Sawyer

WATERVILLE, Maine -- Wellesley sophomores Anna Greenthal (Orinda, Calif.) and Jiyun Chae (Chantilly, Va.) each dropped 10 points to lead the Blue to a 55-48 victory over Colby-Sawyer in day two of the Colby Tip-Off Invitational. 

The Blue win its first game of the season and improve to 1-4 overall. With the loss, Colby-Sawyer drops to 0-4.

Greenthal and Chae were the only players in double figures for the Blue, each with 10 points. The pair added a combined 10 rebounds and nine steals in the win. Senior Valentina Morakis (Long Island, N.Y.) went 4-of-5 from the floor and added nine points. Junior Taylor Hirn (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) filled the stat sheet with six points, seven boards, and three assists.

First year Marissa Holt (Alfred, Maine) scored a game-high 18 points for the Chargers. Emily Parent (Oakland, Maine) and Gabby Lucertini (Branford, Conn.) each tallied 11 points.

The Blue dominated the first quarter, getting out to a 12-4 lead after Chae knocked down a three-pointer. Wellesley would extend its lead to as high as 15 off a layup by Elle Petra (Guilford, Conn.). The Chargers would battle back in the second quarter after Parent hit a shot from downtown to cut the Blue lead to just five with 6:24 remaining. The Blue sparked another run and a bucket from junior Camille Taylor (Boston, Mass.) put Wellesley ahead by 13. Colby-Sawyer closed out the half on a 5-2 run and trailed 32-20 going into the half.

Just as they did to begin the game, Wellesley came out blazing in the second half. An easy layup by Greenthal would give the Blue its largest lead of the game (19) at 39-20. The Chargers would not go away as a pair of free throws by Parent made it a 40-30 game. Heading into the final quarter, the Blue held a 14 point lead. Both offenses were stagnant until Chae knocked down a huge three-pointer with 2:02 to play and the Blue led 53-40. Holt would score eight unanswered points, but it was too little too late as Wellesley held on to win by seven.

Wellesley stepped up defensively, forcing 24 turnovers and scoring 18 points off them. The Blue also outscored the Chargers 14-4 on bench points. Colby-Sawyer struggled from the foul line shooting just 54.5% (6-of-11).

The Blue will remain on the road in a non-conference matchup with Fisher on Tuesday, November 23 at 7:00 PM.