HARTFORD, CT – In the NESCAC quarterfinal, the Williams Ephs (10-15, 3-7 NESCAC) went on a 10-0 run to take a seven-point lead in the third quarter, but the Trinity Bantams (17-5, 8-2 NESCAC) responded with a 16-4 run that the Ephs couldn't overcome in a 57-46 loss.
In the first matchup between these two teams on February 8
th, which Trinity won by the same eleven-point margin at 66-55, the Bantams raced out to an early lead and never held back, though the Ephs kept the score within two possessions for most of the game. This time, the Ephs started stronger in a first half that included 13 lead changes. Throughout the game, however, the Ephs struggled with their three-point shooting, going just 1 for 10 (10.0%) from deep – the one make, by guard
Devin Biesbrock '23, coming with under a minute left – while the Bantams shot 4 for 10 (40.0%). Trinity's three-pointers came at opportune times and made the difference in a game where both teams played gritty, physical basketball.
Trailing 29-22 and held scoreless for more than three minutes to open the third quarter, Trinity completely changed the momentum of the game with a three-pointer from the top of the key by guard Indianna Delrocco. After an emphatic block by Bantams forward Reilly Campbell on a layup attempt by Eph forward
Arianna Gerig '25, Trinity guard Tori Varsamis, who hit 37 of the Bantams' 77 threes this season, hit from deep to make it a one-point game.
"Those two threes that they hit, back-to-back, were huge," admitted Eph head coach
Pat Manning following the Ephs' final game of the 2021-22 season. "[Trinity is] a very solid team. If you take away their inside game, then they'll hurt you from the outside. We made them come up with big shots, and they did."
After Campbell made another key block – this time on Eph forward
Maddy Mandyck '23 – the Bantams' star forward gave Trinity the lead back with a cutting layup. Gerig responded with a make of her own to temporarily give the Ephs the lead back, but Samantha Gallo, Trinity's other star forward, responded with another layup to put Trinity back up on top. By the end of the third quarter, Trinity led by five, and the Ephs couldn't get back within one possession in the fourth.
Despite the loss, the Ephs improved significantly throughout the season, one in which most of their players and both assistant coaches were new. "We made giant strides from October to now," reflected Manning. "We had only 5 returning players out of 13, and only two of them had extensive playing time. Everything was new, but we still played in a ton of close games. I'm proud of all the effort the team put in this year."
Mandyck played an excellent all-around game (15p, 8r), nearly missing a double-double and playing standout defense, especially in the first half, where she recorded two blocks and two steals. Gerig added 11 points, four rebounds, and three more steals. In her final game as an Eph, guard
Maggie Meehan '22 scored 10 points on 5 for 16 (31.3%) shooting.
Throughout the season, Manning was impressed with the leadership of Meehan, the team's lone senior, especially considering that the Ephs' star guard took time off in order to play her senior season. "It's a tribute to Maggie that she assumed a leadership role without everyone else from her class," remarked Manning. "We needed different things than we've ever needed from her, and it's amazing how she taught her teammates what it takes to play in the NESCAC, what it takes to play back-to-backs. There's such a learning curve when it comes to playing college basketball, and she did so much to help make us competitive."
Campbell, who played a season-low 13 minutes in the regular-season matchup due to early foul trouble, paced the Bantams with 16 points and 9 rebounds in 36 minutes, and made a number of key defensive plays to swing the momentum back in Trinity's favor in the second half. Gallo scored 10 points on perfect, 5 for 5 shooting, and Varsamis and Delrocco combined for 19 points and all four of the Bantams' three-pointers.
Both teams found offensive success in the paint in the first quarter, with the Ephs and Bantams each scoring their first eight points in the restricted area and finishing the quarter tied 10-10.
Interestingly, however, the Ephs' other 17 points in the first half all came from outside the paint or from the free throw line as they gradually became more comfortable shooting from outside. Though neither team led by more than four in the first half, Williams entered the half with a great deal of momentum on a 6-0 run in which they forced three straight Trinity turnovers in their own backcourt with under two minutes to go in the half. At halftime, the Ephs led 25-22.
"I'm really proud of the defensive effort," commented Manning. "It's hard to press, it takes a lot of effort, but our press was really working today. We kept at it and threw Trinity out their comfort zone for the entire first half."
Williams only added to their lead in the third with a running layup by Biesbrock and a fadeaway jumper by Mandyck, but the Bantams seized control of the game from there. A free throw early in the fourth by Mandyck made it a four-point game at 40-36, but Varsamis responded with a three to give Trinity a seven-point lead, their largest of the game to that point. The Bantams then continued to pull away, leading by as many as 14 before Biesbrock hit the Ephs' first three-pointer to make the final score.
Trinity shot efficiently all game, particularly in the second half, when they went 12 for 20 (60.0%) from the field. The Ephs, on the other hand, shot just 18 for 53 (34.0%) and 8 for 24 (33.3%) in the second half. After dominating the boards with a 42-27 rebounding advantage in the regular-season matchup, the Bantams again outrebounded the Ephs, but by not as significant a margin (34-26). Williams' full-court press put pressure on Trinity's offensive rhythm all day, and the Bantams turned it over 17 times compared to just 10 for the Ephs.
One of the main areas for improvement next season, according to Manning, is outside shooting. "We've struggled from the outside, and we've really got to focus on that next year. We need to develop more of a balanced game."
The most encouraging news for the Ephs going forward, however, is that they will return 12 of their 13 players next season. "Returning twelve, returning [assistant coaches
Kendra Drake and
Appoorva Muralinath], we're going to be starting in a different place," remarked Manning. "Now they know what it takes, and where we have to be to contend for a NESCAC championship."
