WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – The Williams Ephs (1-1) cruised to an 89-42 win – their first of the 2021-22 season – over the MCLA Trailblazers (0-3) on the strength of efficient shooting and a dominant performance on the boards.
The Ephs scored 89 points, their most in a game since scoring 98 against Delaware Valley on December 18, 2019. Williams shot an efficient 38 for 81 (46.9%) from the field, while MCLA managed just a 16 of 61 (26.2%) mark.
"We were loose and confident, and we let the game come to us," said Eph head coach
Pat Manning following the victory. "We played unselfish and got high-percentage shots."
Williams out rebounded MCLA 65-26, including a 25-7 margin on offense, and the Ephs scored 36 points in the paint compared to just 12 for the Trailblazers. Five different Ephs scored in double digits; guard
Brooke Krivickas '24 led the team with 14 points. Center
Priscilla Singleton-Eriyo '23 fell a point shy of a double-double, scoring nine points and securing a team-high 16 rebounds. Forward
Cortland McBarron '25 shined with ten more boards off the bench.
Forward Hannah Mazzeo and guard Shannon Carney paced the Trailblazers' offense, combining for 29 of the team's 42 points. Mazzeo also led MCLA in rebounds with seven, and guard Maddie Teta notched five steals.
Following a close loss to Skidmore in which they scored only 42 points, Williams scored more than half of their previous total in the first quarter alone, starting the game on a 22-0 run that lasted for all but the last ten seconds of the first quarter. Guard
Maggie Meehan '22 paced the Ephs with 8 points on the run, and seven other Ephs combined for the remaining 14.
MCLA didn't manage to score until guard Hannah Mazzeo drew a shooting foul on Williams guard
Brooke Krivickas '24 and made one of two free throws, making it 22-1 at the end of the first quarter. Mazzeo then scored the Trailblazers' first field goal four minutes into the second.
Though the Trailblazers found some offensive rhythm in the second quarter, the Ephs still outscored them 17-10 in the quarter. Guards
Kate Keenan '25 and
Arianna Gerig '25 combined for nine of those 17 points.
The Ephs kept their foot on the gas to start the second half, scoring 14 straight points and holding MCLA without a basket until more than halfway through the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Williams bench poured in 30 more points to extend the Ephs' lead further.
"We have eight players that have never played in a college game, and they all scored either yesterday or today," said Manning. "It's a very fun group to coach, and the players' chemistry is awesome."
On Tuesday at 7:00pm, the Ephs will look to continue their winning streak on the road against Vassar.
