Box Score WILLIAMSTOWN, MA- In their home opener, the Ephs (0-0 NESCAC, 1-0) beat the Babson College Beavers (0-1) by a score of 61-42.
Williams started the game in possession, with Oge Uwanaka winning the tip off. Babson would be first on the scoreboard, however, after a few minutes of scoreless play. Williams responded with a caused turnover by Ellen Cook, who moved the ball to teammate Kellie Macdonald for a fast break. MacDonald would finish with a lay up, tying the game at 2. Babsons' Briana Hunt then made both of her foul shots to regain the lead, and start a 5-0 run for Babson as Lindsey Roche would drain a three pointer shortly thereafter.
Macdonald ended Babson's run with a bank shot from in the paint, bringing the score to 7-4 in Babson's favor. Uwanaka's strong defense gave Williams the momentum to win back possession and push the ball down the court for a fast break that culminated in a lay up by Cook to bring the score to 7-6. Williams would finally gain their first lead of the game, which they would retain for the remainder of the game.
Freshman Devon Caveney helped widened Williams' lead with a three pointer she released quickly to avoid an oncoming defender. Williams continued playing strong defense, capitalizing on more caused turnovers by Cook, and forcing multiple travel calls on Babson. With a drive to the hoop and a successful lefty layup, Cook brought Williams' lead to 6 points, causing Babson to call a timeout. This timeout would not stall Williams' momentum, however, as MacDonald handled the ball low in the right corner of Babson's defensive end, drawing defenders only to move the ball to Lauren McCall who was cutting through the paint for a layup. Babson would finally break Williams' streak when the Beavers' Linnette Graber drew a foul and made both of her foul shots to bring Babson's deficit to six. However, Caveney would respond immediately, carrying the ball end to end with the help of a well-timed pick, and laying the ball in lefty to bring the score to 17-9 in the Ephs' favor.
Babson's Jess Coelho finished a short hook shot from the paint to give the Beavers another pair of points, but Williams would respond with a layup from Uwanaka and an outside shot from McCall. After McCall's shot, Williams and Babson would trade possessions, with both teams missing layups to keep the score at 21-13. Macdonald would drain a three to keep Williams' streak alive, but only briefly as Roche made a quick steal in Williams' defensive end to finish an easy layup under the hoop. Macdonald followed up her previous three pointer with an identical one shortly thereafter. Although Hunt would remain on the offensive bydraining two foul shots, Williams dominated the remainder of the half, culminating in a three pointer by MaryKate O'Brien to end the half at 33-20 in Williams' favor.
Babson started the second half with possession, moving the ball quickly to try and find a hole in Williams' defense. Their first drive to the hoop would be unsuccessful, however, and Williams would push the ball down the court to find MacDonald under the hoop. Macdonald scored the layup to put the Ephs up 35-20. Strong defense would keep both teams scoreless for the next four possessions, until Williams' Jane Thompson would drain a three pointer from the right. Babson would try and respond, but a block by Uwanaka would thwart the Beavers' drive to the hoop.
After a brief timeout, it was apparent that Babson had changed their style of defense, upping the pressure on Williams' guards. After turning over the ball, Williams regained their composure to challenge the Beavers' defense. Going on a 6-0 run, Williams dominated offensively until Babson's Giovanna Pickering was able to lay the ball in righty off of a lofty pass from outside the arc. Hunt continued Babson's offensive momentum, drawing a foul and draining both of her foul shots. Williams stymied that run, however, as Cook completed a lay up during the Ephs' next possession to end the 7-0 streak.
Remaining competitive on the boards, Williams was able to hold possession for a prolonged period thanks to a number of offensive rebounds. The Ephs would continue dominating offensively, bringing the score to 48-27 with fast breaks and strong defense. Both teams would trade possessions until Uwanaka would lay the ball in off of a rebound. Aggressive defense by Pickering helped the beavers regain possession, which Graber would use to draw a foul and score both of her foul shots.
With the score at 50-29, Williams would begin utilizing the depth of their bench as underclassmen took the court in place of their junior captains. Babson put their defensive pressure on this young squad, chasing the ball from hoop to hoop. Their defensive frenzy did not translate offensively, however, as unforced turnovers and missed layups kept the Beavers from mounting a strong comeback effort.
MacDonald and Cook would take the court again, and immediately help widen Williams' lead with a give and go play for MacDonald. Babson's Hunt drew yet another foul on a hard drive to the net, and would score both her layup and the foul shot to bring the score to 56-32 in Williams' favor. A smart out of bounds play by Hunt would give them another and-one opportunity as Kristen Ferola scored her layup and drew a foul by Uwanaka. Cook came back with a quick three pointer, however and stymied Babson's chance at a run.
With less than three minutes remaining, Babson put another three pointer on the board thanks to a smart shot by Erin Young. A fast break by Roche would give the Beavers another layup, which they followed up with a steal to regain possession. The Beavers' aggressive defense would pay off, as they regained possession to allow Pickering to draw and foul with less than a minute remaining. Pickering made both her layup and her foul shot, bringing the score to 61-42 in Williams' favor. The clock would run out before either team could change the score, giving Williams their first win of the season.
Coach Pat Manning was very proud of her young team after the contest against Babson this afternoon, saying, "We were confident going into this game because of how well we've executed all preseason, which came in a large part from the consistency and composure of our captains. Kellie (MacDonald) and Ellen (Cook) have been extremely unselfish, and I think that has helped foster the great team dynamic we have now." Manning went on to commend both O'Brien and Uwanaka, who have "waited in the wings" for their chance to stand out as sophomores this year.
The Ephs next take on Pattsburgh St. at 1 P.M. in Lasell Gym.
