Box Score
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (Jan. 25) ---(Brian Katten, Wesleyan) Freshman Liz Malman got around Wesleyan's screens on an inbounds pass with :08 to go in overtime to steal the ball and go in for an uncontested layup with :03.5 to play, breaking a 61-61 tie, leading to Connecticut College's 65-61 win over host Wesleyan here today in NESCAC women's basketball action.
After a Wesleyan turnover on its next possession, Connecticut College added a pair of free throws by junior Carlee Smith for the final margin.
Malman led all scorers in the game with 17 points as each team enjoyed a decent lead in the contest. The Camels were the first to get on track after a nip-and-tuck opening 15 minutes. Holding a slim 18-16 edge, Connecticut College scored the next seven points, five of them from Malman, to move ahead, 25-16.
The halftime lead was just four, 28-24. Wesleyan began the second half on a tear, using a 14-3 run to pull out to a 38-31 lead with 12:32 to go. The difference peaked at 10, 44-34, with 9:28 on the clock.
The Camels responded with 13 consecutive points, paced by a pair of three–pointers from sophomore Willa McKinley (15 points) to grab a 47-44 advantage with less than five minutes to go. Wesleyan held its last lead of the half, 50-49, at the 3:05 mark as Connecticut College tied it, 50-50, and had leads of 52-50 and 54-52 before Wesleyan got the tying bucket in regulation from junior Jess Cherenza with :40 left. Connecticut College then missed on its last possession of regulation, as Wesleyan got the rebound with :22 to go.
But Wesleyan turned the ball over on the endline and the last :04.3 ticked off the clock before Connecticut College could attempt a legitimate shot.
Neither team led by more than two in the extra period until the final :01.2. Wesleyan had the lead 61-59, with :35.3 left after a Cherenza free throw. The Camels knotted the count when Malman dropped in a pair from the line with :14.8 to go. Wesleyan moved up court and called timeout with :09.8 showing.
Malman got her hand on the first attempted inbounds pass but it went out-of-bounds. The second time, Malman got control and raced to the basket for the winning layup ahead of a pair of Cardinals.
Smith joined Malman and McKinley in double-digits for Conn with 10 points. Malman and Smith each had four assists while Malman also had four steals. Connecticut College blocked 10 shots in the contest, led by senior Caitlin Cimino with four. She also had eight rebounds, bested by senior Tara Gabelman with nine.
Cherenza had a double-double for the Cardinals with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior KellyAnn Rooney paced Wesleyan with 15 points.
Wesleyan is now 32-24 all-time vs. Connecticut College as today's win was just the second for Connecticut College in the last 16 meetings vs. Wesleyan. Wesleyan had a 13-game winning streak vs. Connecticut College snapped during the 2010-11 season, but then won the last two before today.
Wesleyan is back on the court Tues. Jan. 28, hosting Little Three rival Amherst in a game that does not count in the NESCAC standings. Connecticut College is back in action Fri., Jan. 31, hosting conference leader and undefeated (16-0) Tufts in a NESCAC matchup
