By Claire Gulbin '22

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Junior Molly Cronin (Wellesley, Mass.) had a career-high 16 points as the Connecticut College women's basketball team dropped a 74-66 decision to Emmanuel College on Saturday afternoon at the Luce Fieldhouse.
 
Both teams struggled to score and traded baskets throughout the majority of the first half. Senior Emily O'Sullivan (North Reading, Mass.) hit a three pointer late in the first quarter to give the Camels their first lead of the game at 11-10. After a Cronin three pointer, Emmanuel (4-1) was able to put together a 12-1 run at the end of the second quarter, regaining the lead at 29-22 going into the half.
 
The Camels and Saints continued to trade buckets in the third quarter, but the Camels found some momentum late in the period when senior Audrey Shaev (Scarsdale, N.Y.) found freshman Catie Donadio (Clinton, Conn.) for a three pointer on a kick out pass after beating her defender off a spin move. Shaev then hit a three pointer of her own on the next possession for the Camels, and Connecticut College was able to chip away at the lead and enter the fourth quarter down by just four points.
 
Cronin continued to have the hot hand for the Camels when she opened up the fourth quarter with her fourth three pointer of the game. With three minutes to go, Cronin hit another three, tying the game at 56.
 
Emmanuel, however, was able to answer with a pair of free throws and a three pointer to regain the lead. Down by five with 30 seconds left, Connecticut College (1-3) was forced to send Emmanuel to the line repeatedly by fouling. Despite some clutch last effort threes from Shaev and Rebecca Oberman-Levine (Hamden, Conn.), the Camels were unable to overcome the deficit, and Emmanuel was able to convert enough free throws in the final minute to seal the game's fate at 74-76.
 
Cronin led the Camels with 16 points and five assists, shooting an impressive 5-of-11 from behind the arc. Oberman-Levine grabbed 11 rebounds, while senior Emily Tripp (Westport, Mass.) collected seven. Both Tripp and Oberman-Levine contributed 10 each points in the loss.
 
Seniors Riley Lahiff and Loredana D'Agostino paced Emmanuel College, combining for 36 points for the Saints in the victory.
 
The Camels return to action when they travel to Worcester, Mass. to play Holy Cross on Monday evening at 6 p.m.