Second Half Surge Pushes Wheaton Past Basketball, 62-58

Game Statistics

???SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Jan. 23, 2010) – Powered by a 14-0 late in the second half, the Wheaton College women’s basketball team downed Mount Holyoke College 62-58 this afternoon at the Mildred Howard Gymnasium. It was Wheaton’s fifth straight win over its New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) counterparts.

The guests were paced by senior guard Andrea Bailey, who racked up a career best 19 points to go with 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Classmate Jenny Champney and first year guard Jeana Trimboli netted 14 and 11 points, respectively. Meanwhile, first year forward Natasha Colon Ortiz added eight points and five boards off the bench. Wheaton converted 37.7% (20-53) of its shots from the floor and 73.9% (17-23) of its free throw attempts. It finished with 14 assists on 20 made baskets.

Senior Jess Olson piled up a season best 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field to lead the way for Mount Holyoke. The forward drained three shots from beyond the arc and also pulled down seven rebounds. Senior Erin Cain also knocked down three treys for the hosts, who netted seven as a team. The guard collected 15 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Christine Chancy matched her career high with seven of her squad’s 15 assists. Mount Holyoke finished with a 37-35 advantage on the glass and shot 37.7% (23-61) from the floor.

Neither side led by more than six points in a first half that saw seven ties and five lead changes. Wheaton rallied for six consecutive points over a span of 1:45 to gain a 21-15 advantage at the 8:12 mark. Champney sparked the run with a pair of jumpers. A three pointer by Olson with 3:05 remaining in the half capped off a 5-0 Mount Holyoke run and put the hosts in front 27-26. The teams went into the locker room deadlocked at 30-30. Olson knocked down 5-of-6 shots before the break en route to 12 points.

Mount Holyoke gained control of the contest in the early stages of the second stanza. A jumper by Chase gave the hosts a 44-37 edge with just under 13 minutes remaining in regulation. Cain drilled a three pointer to put Mount Holyoke up 47-42 at the 9:45 mark.

Wheaton then exploded for 14 straight points over the next six minutes to open up a 56-47 cushion. Six players scored points during the spurt, which was highlighted by a Bailey three pointer that gave the visitors their first lead of the second half at the 5:44 mark.

Refusing to go away, Mount Holyoke recorded the next seven points to slice the deficit to 56-54 with 1:50 to go. Olson delivered all seven points during the spurt, converting a jumper, a three pointer and a layup.

From there, Wheaton knocked down all six of its free throws down the stretch to seal things.

Mount Holyoke (6-11, 4-6 NEWMAC) will put the finishing touches on a three game homestand on Wednesday, when it hosts Springfield College for a league tilt beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wheaton (11-6, 8-2 NEWMAC) will also resume its NEWMAC slate on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., when it welcomes Babson College.