Emerson Survives Late Wellesley Basketball Comeback, 63-57

BOSTON, Mass. - Emerson staved off a late comeback from Wellesley College basketball to win a 63-57 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game on Tuesday night at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym.

Junior Ella Bushee (Walpole, N.H.) was the leader for the Lions (7-11 Overall, 2-1 NEWMAC) with 14 points and two blocks, while junior Olivia Deslauriers (West Hartford, Conn.) pitched in 13 points. Junior Jiyun Chae (Chantilly, Va.) scored a career-high 22 points with four points and four steals to help to Blue (7-11 Overall, 1-3 NEWMAC).

The Lions jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, including a three from Deslauriers. The Blue scored the next eight points with four points and an assist from sophomore Sairah O'Brien-Forde (Binghamton, N.Y.). The teams held each other with a few points for the rest of the quarter, with the Lions leading 15-13 after one.

The Lions gained control and pushed their lead to 25-15 with strong transition offense, balanced scoring, and fast breaks. The Blue struck back with the next four points, including a steal and coast-to-coast layup by Chae. Senior Pujita Shukla (Austin, Texas) later cut the Lions' lead to two at 29-27 with a turnaround jumper. Emerson led 33-27 at the half, paced by eight points from Bushee. 

Bushee brought Emerson's lead up to 36-29 early in the third. Deslauriers and Bushee converted a layups to get the Lions up 11 at 42-31 before Shukla hit a three for Wellesley and Chae scored four points to get the game back to 44-38 in favor of Emerson. The Lions led 51-40 through three with Bushee and junior Quinn O'Connor (Bethlehem, Pa.) both scoring in double figures. 

Junior Anna Greenthal (Orinda, Calif.) hit an early three for the Blue to get the lead down to 10 at 53-43. The teams traded baskets with Emerson maintaining a double-digit lead. Wellesley first year Arla Hofer (Las Vegas, Nev.) recorded her game-high third block midway through the fourth. Chae scored four straight points to get the game back to 59-51 in Emerson's favor. A layup from Greenthal got the game back to four points 61-57 with a minute left. A late layup from Bushee sealed the 63-57 win for the Lions.

The Blue return home Saturday for a NEWMAC game against MIT at 1:00 PM. The Lions remain home Saturday at 1:00 PM to host WPI in NEWMAC play.