Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, MA — The Williams College women's
basketball team continued the learning process on the road Tuesday
night.
The Ephs just wish it didn't come with a loss.
Williams dropped its third straight game as the host Pride
outscored them 8-3 over the final three and a half minutes to pull
off a 73-68 victory. The Ephs (1-3) break for Thanksgiving but hit
the hardwood again Sunday, November 30 at RPI for a 2 p.m. start.
“We're taking baby steps, but we're taking
steps,” Ephs head coach Pat Manning said after the game. I
felt like it was our best effort so far this season on the
defensive end. It was a great game and we had our chances to win it
late.”
Springfield freshman Kelly Murphy stole the ball at midcourt and
sank a lay-up with 55 seconds left to break a tie. With the win,
the Pride is now 3-2.
It was a terrific game as both teams mounted spurts during the
game. Williams led by as many as seven in the early going -- 18-11
with 10:25 remaining -- while Springfield led by as many as 11
later on in that same half, 39-28 with 1:13 left.
Williams, which trailed most of the game until it tied it at
65-all with 3:33 left on a jumper by first-year guard Kelsey Ham,
was led by sophomore forward Chessie Jackson with 15 points,
followed by sophomore Jessica Harris with 13, and senior guard Mika
Peterman and freshman guard Jill Greenburg with 12 points each.
In the second stanza, Springfield would lead by as many as 10
(45-35) with 18:09 left on a lay-up by Murphy. From there, SC led
anywhere from four to eight points until a Peterman 3-pointer with
6:33 left cut the margin to three, 62-59. A 3-pointer by Jackson
with 5:08 left cut it to one (63-62). After Ham tied it at 65-all,
Walker made two free throws, giving SC a 67-65 lead with 3:14 left.
But Harris would tie it once again on two free throws for the Ephs
with 2:14 left. Each team had two opportunities to take command,
but could not convert. Peterman came up with a steal with 1:10
left, giving Williams the advantage.
Springfield was led by senior forward Corey Finch with 17 points
and 13 rebounds. Senior center Lauren O'Connor followed with
16 points and 12 rebounds. The Pride had one other player finish in
double figures, sophomore guard Rachelle Walker with 15 points,
three rebounds, and two assists.
The Pride outrebounded Williams, 50-38, but the Ephs forced 23
Springfield turnovers to stay close. Harris led Williams with 10
rebounds. Greenberg had seven steals and five assists in the loss.
“We're starting to understand what defense
is,” Manning said. “We're going to get there,
it's encouraging that we're seeing progress.”
