NEW LONDON, Conn.--Senior forward Shannon Brady (Scituate, Mass.) poured in a game-high 21 points and added five rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals to lead the Bowdoin College women's basketball team to a 73-61 victory against Connecticut College at Luce Field House Saturday.

The Polar Bears improved their record to 19-5 with an 8-2 mark in the NESCAC. They locked up the third seed that will carry home court advantage for at least the first round of the upcoming 2016 NESCAC Championship that gets underway next Saturday.

The Camels fell to 17-6 and end the regular season conference slate with a record of 6-4. They will finish in either fourth, fifth or sixth place depending on what happens in tomorrow's games.  Both the Camels and Polar Bears were receiving votes in this week's USA Today/WBCA Division III National Poll.

Junior guard Marle Curle (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) chipped in with 12 points and eight boards for the winning side. Kate Kerrigan (Wellesley Hills, Mass.) erupted with 11 points, 15 rebounds and six assists en route to a double-double for the victors. Abigail Kelly (Bombay, N.Y.) reached double digits with 10 points in the triumph. Bowdoin enjoyed a 42-37 edge on the backboards and out-scored Camels 22-to-12 at the foul line.

The Camels were celebrating senior day in New London. Willa McKinley (Westport, N.Y.), Amelia King (San Francisco, Calif.) and Jenna Lovett (Tolland, Conn.) were all honored in a pre-game ceremony. The talented trio have led the Camels to the NESCAC playoffs in each of the past three years and have posted the highest conference win total of any class with 22 victories.

McKinley paced the Camels with 15 points and three rebounds, shooting 6-for-12 from the field. Payton Ouimette (Medfield, Mass.) posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Shaniqua Shaw (Worcester, Mass.) contributed with seven points and three rebounds in the second half.

The visitors stormed out to a 20-9 lead after one quarter and carried a 38-26 lead into the break. In the third quarter, the Polar Bears put together a 9-0 run to break the game open. Kelly buried a three ball from the left side with 4:37 remaining, Brady followed with a jumper before Kelly closed out the run with another trifecta to push the lead to 57-34 with 3:04 to play.

McKinley buried a three-ball to trim the deficit to 71-58 with 1:29 to play but it was too late and the visitors were able to hold on for the 73-61 win.  

The NESCAC will release the 2016 Championship field tomorrow when all of the remaining games are played.