GALLATIN, Tenn. - Sophomore guard
Micah Walton of the Williams College women's basketball team scored 16 of her game-high 25 points in the second half Friday afternoon during a 70-61 setback to No. 11-ranked John Carroll in the Music City Classic at Welch College.
Walton has scored between 22 and 25 points during 5-of-10 games this season for the Ephs (6-4). The Austin, Texas, native shot 10 of 17 from the field (58.8%), while junior forward
Kathleen Smith finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks, shooting 6 of 10 from the field (60.0%). First-years
Gracie Augustine (2 for 4 on 3-pointers)Â and
Amaya Chase-Luthra combined for 12 points off the bench.
Graci Semptimphelter led the way for the Blue Streaks (8-1, 0-1 North Coast Athletic Conference), as she scored a team-best 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, 4 for 7 on 3-pointers and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Ava Ryncarz (12 points), Nicci Finazzo (10 points) and Carly Perusek (10 points) also reached double figures in scoring.
Walton scored the first six points of the game, but back-to-back layups by Finazzo gave John Carroll a 17-10 advantage with 1:15 on the clock in the first quarter. A jumper in the paint by junior guard
Hanorah Murphy trimmed the Blue Streaks' lead to 17-15 with 8:33 left in the second. Two made free throws by Semptimphelter with four seconds remaining sent John Carroll into halftime with a 37-24 cushion.
Williams showed a great deal of resiliency in the fourth quarter, as John Carroll went in front, 69-45, with 4:15 remaining. The Ephs fought back and trimmed the deficit down to single digits, as a 3-point shot by Walton made it a nine-point game with 16 seconds on the scoreboard. The Ephs led in bench points, 19-16, and each team scored 12 second-chance points. Williams shot 40.0% from 3-point range (4 of 10) and 46.3% from the field (25 for 54).
The Ephs will be back in action Saturday with a 3 p.m. Central Time start against DePauw at Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee.
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