MIDDLETOWN, Conn.  (Jan. 24) - Trailing 47-37 with 8:45 remaining in the second half, visiting Connecticut College went on a valuable 15-2 run over the next six minutes to forge a 52-49 lead with 2:47 to play.  After homestanding Wesleyan tied the game 24 second later, the Camels finished the game with a 7-2 burst to locked up a 59-54 NESCAC women's basketball win.  

 

Connecticut College improved to 13-4 overall, 3-1 in the NESCAC.  Wesleyan fell to 7-9 overall, 0-4 in the conference.

 

Connecticut College top scorer freshman Mairead Hynes netted the final seven points for her team on her way to a game-high 23 points along with 13 rebounds for a double-double. Her traditional three-point play with :54 left put the Camels ahead for good, 55-52.  She added a pair of free throws at both the :21.8 mark and the :12.0 mark to close out Connecticut College's scoring.  

 

Wesleyan got a double-double from senior Jess Cherenza as she posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.  Leading Wesleyan on the day with 11 points was senior Cherkira Lashley.  Connecticut College had two other players reach double-digits in scoring as sophomore Liz Malman netted 11 while adding six rebounds and three steals.  Senior Carlee Smith was good for 10 points and six assists.

 

Wesleyan led most of the game and by as much as eight (24-16, 6:30 to go) in the first half.  Going ahead 10-9 at the 12:35 mark of the first period on a second-chance basket by sophomore Brenna Diggins (6 points, 7 rebounds), the Cardinals stayed ahead until Malman canned a trey with 3:34 to go in the game, spotting the Camels a 50-49 edge.  The Camels had narrowed the difference to a lone point, 34-33, at the 18:18 mark of the second half, but Wesleyan responded with a 13-4 run for its largest margin at 47-37.  Cherenza had six of the 13 points while senior Dreisen Heath added four.

 

Next up for Wesleyan is a home game with Amherst that will not count in the NESCAC standings Tues., Jan. 27.  

 

Connecticut College is back on the court Fri., Jan. 30, hosting Tufts (16-1, 4-0 NESCAC) in a pivotal conference matchup.