WILLIMANTIC, CT- The Williams women's basketball team returned to the court today to beat Eastern Connecticut State (6-10, 2-4 LEC) 63-47. The Ephs (15-2, 2-2 NESCAC) played without star forward Claire Baecher, who was sidelined after an injury in Saturday's game against Connecticut College.
The Ephs opened the game on a 12-0 run. First-year Kellie Macdonald knocked down two long balls to start and senior Jill Greenberg added to the run with a three of her own. The Warriors finally broke the spell just over eight minutes into the game with a jump shot from Kristina Forsman. They were unable to gain the momentum, however, as the Ephs controlled the rest of the half.
The Ephs ended the half with a 16-6 run that started with a finish in the paint from Danny Rainer with 6:36 on the clock. On the next Warrior possession, Rainer blocked a shot. The play resulted in a long ball from Grace Rehnquist. Rehnquist added a free throw and a lay-up before knocking down yet another three off of a pretty pass from Greenberg to make it 31-12. Jennie Harding hit another three-ball and Greenberg finished a lay-up to give the Ephs the 36-14 lead going into the break.
Out of the locker room, the Warriors started a run of their own to cut the lead to 11 with just over ten to play behind several jumpers from Shannon McCourt and a three-pointer from Danyelle Rodriguez. The Ephs, however, responded with poise as Rehnquist knocked down a jump shot and Rainer finished a pair of lay-ups to push the lead back to 17.
The two teams traded hoops for much of the rest of the half. The Ephs were able to push their lead back to 22 behind a three-ball and jumper from Rehnquist with three minutes on the clock.
Leading the way tonight for the Ephs was Rehnquist with 17 points. She also tied a team high with seven rebounds. Rainer added 12 and Greenberg and Macdonald each had ten for the Ephs, who shot 34.7% from the field.
McCourt posted a double double for the Warriors with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Taylor McBride was the only other Warrior in double digits with ten. The team shot 37.5% from the field on the night.
Said Coach Manning after the game, "We played a great first half. I was really happy with the intensity. People stepped up. I thought Kellie Macdonald played her best game of the season so far. Danny Rainer [also stepped up]." She added, "Grace has been struggling a little bit with her shooting; she came through tonight. Jill – five assists three steals [came through as well].""
Manning was also proud of her team's overall effort: "In the first half especially we executed really well, and we did some good things. There was some let down in the second half. Overall, it was a good night for us. We came down with 18 offensive rebounds, and that's something we've been focusing on."
The Ephs return to the court on Sunday against Hamilton at 2 PM. The Warriors take on the University of Southern Maine on Saturday at 1 PM.
