WORCESTER, Mass. (Dec. 4, 2012) - Despite a double-digit effort from three different players, the Mount Holyoke College basketball team could not overcome a strong push by Clark University in the closing minutes, falling 63-55 on Tuesday evening in NEWMAC action. With the victory, the Cougars improve to 5-1 overall with a 2-1 league mark. The Lyons slip to 1-5 and 0-3 in the NEWMAC.
Mount Holyoke opened the scoring, taking a 3-0 lead on a shot from downtown by sophomore Kate Karraker. The Lyons continued to lead the game until the 15:58 mark, when Kelsey Giedymin sank a three-pointer of her own to give the Cougars a 7-6 lead.
Clark later led by six (14-8) on a layup from Annmarie Fransen, but MHC battled back on a three-pointer from first year Genelle Green. Another shot by Karraker from outside the arc regained the advantage for the Lyons by a 16-14 margin.
Neither team was able to gain a substantial lead as it became an increasing back-and-forth battle. Clark's Megan Grondin drove to the net to make it a 22-20 lead with 5:47 to play, but the Lyons rebounded, sinking their fourth three-pointer of the half for a one-point lead.
Heading into the second half, Mount Holyoke led by a 27-24 margin, but the lead quickly disappeared as Clark's Emily Reilly drained a three to tie it at 27-all. The tug-of-war continued with the Lyons taking back the advantage on a layup by Green (38-35), but the Cougars responded as Ashleigh Condon sank a shot to tie it once more with 11:40 left in the game.
Following a layup from Mount Holyoke's Amber Legare, the Cougars dropped in four points for a 47-44 lead. Clark contined to maintain the led, going up by seven (52-45) with 4:40 in the game on Reilly's three-pointer.
Despite five points down the stretch from Legare, the Lyons couldn't close the gap in the closing minutes. The Cougars were led by Condon, who posted a game-best 19 points to go along with four rebounds and six assists.
Reilly added 18 points and seven rebounds, while Grondin rounded out the solid efforts for Clark with 17 points and six caroms.
For Mount Holyoke, senior Angelica Pascual poured in 16 points and a game-best 15 rebounds with six assists. Legare added 12 points, while Karraker had 10 points. Green chipped in with nine points and 11 rebounds.
Clark returns to the court on Friday in a 7pm match at Wellesley. The Lyons are also in action on Friday, hosting MIT at 7pm.
Photos courtesy of Doug Poulin.
