Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn.—Carlee Smith (Willimantic, Conn.) poured in a game-high 19 points to go along with eight assists, four rebound and three steals to lead the Connecticut College women's basketball team to a 70-63 NESCAC victory against Middlebury College at Luce Field House Sunday.
Smith was 9-for-10 from the foul line. She sparked the Camels on a 7-to-0 run over 3:12 of action in the late stages of the second half that allowed the hosts to pull away for the win.
The Camels improved their record to 10-6 with a 2-1 mark in the NESCAC, while the Panthers slipped to 6-9 with a 1-2 record in conference action.
Sophomore Willa McKinley (Westport, N.Y.) chipped in with 14 points, connecting on 3-of-6 shots from long distance. Tara Gabelman (Irvington, N.Y.) posted the 32nd double-double of her career in a 6-for-8 shooting performance, finishing with 13 points and 10 boards for the hosts.
Senior guard Laura Lowry (West Hartford, Conn.) netted 16 points to go with three rebounds for the visiting Panthers. Rachel Crews (South Burlington, Vt.) was 6-for-11 from the field en route to her 14 point effort. Scarlett Kirk (San Francisco, Calif.) added 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Middlebury.
Sarah Marcus (Williamsville, N.Y.) reached double-digits with 10 points for the visitors.
This was a back and forth battle of longstanding rivals that featured seven ties. With 3:39 to go, Smith converted a pair of free throws to put the Camels on top 59-55. But on the ensuing possession, Middlebury responded when Marcus fed Crews in the post for a field goal to pull the visitors to within 59-57.
However, Camels were able to pull away in the closing moments. Kaitlyn Cresencia (New Providence, N.J.) knocked down a jumper from the foul line to extend the lead to 61-57. On the ensuing Middlebury possession, Smith induced a Panther turnover and went end-to-end for a hoop to make it a 63-57 game with 3:22 remaining. With 2:55 to play, Smith extended the lead when she corralled an offensive rebound and then connected with a pair of free throws.
McKinley closed out the run with another free throw at the 1:25 mark to push the lead to 66-57. Crews scored a hoop with just 1:01 left that trimmed the deficit to 68-61. But the visitors could not get an y closer and the Camels were able to hold on for the 70-63 triumph.
Crews buried a three-ball from the top of the key with to vault the visitors out to an early 7-4 advantage with 14:48 remaining in the first stanza. Later on in the half with 12:28 to play, Smith dribbled from coast to coast for a lay up and one to put the hosts on top11-8.
In the closing moments of the half with 1:56 remaining, the Panther pulled to within 26-25 when Christina Nowak (Westford, Mass.) dialed up a trey from the left side for the visitors.
Smith put in a lay-up with 1:56 left for the Camels but Kirk responded with 1:06 remaining, scoring two of her eight first half points and the Camels carried a 28-27 lead into the break.
Tracking the Camels-With her 10 rebounds Sunday, Gabelman moved into sixth place on the program's all-time leader list with 720 boards.
