By Logan Kilfoyle '22

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's basketball team was defeated by the Wesleyan Cardinals by a score of 72-46 on Sunday afternoon. 
 
While the first quarter began as a back-and-forth matchup between the Camels and the Cardinals, Wesleyan (7-9, NESCAC 1-3) was able to quickly find the weakness in Connecticut College's zone defense. The Cardinals netted four 3 pointers in only the first quarter, finding outside shooting momentum that would continue throughout the game. Jaycie Rojik (Scituate, Mass.) kept Connecticut College in the game with three consecutive jumpers from inside the paint. The quarter ended with Wesleyan in the lead by a score of 18-14, but the Cardinals would begin to widen their lead significantly.
 
The Camels' zone defense was no match for Wesleyan's outstanding outside shooting. The Cardinals received numerous wide open looks from outside the arc, and they were able to capitalize on them, shooting 5-for-6 from 3-point range in the second quarter. Wesleyan's Maggie Lee shot a perfect 5-for-5 from behind the arc, in addition to Marina Petruzzi going 6-for-8. The Camels were unable to answer Wesleyan's outside shooting efforts, making only two of 20 from 3-point range. By the halftime buzzer, Wesleyan had secured a 17-point lead, making the score 45-28.
 
As the game progressed, the Camels were unable to find offensive momentum. Although they did switch to a man-to-man defense, holding the Cardinals to no 3 pointers in the fourth quarter, they shot only 10 percent from behind the arc and 26 percent from inside. The game ended with Wesleyan holding a generous lead of almost 30 points and eventually defeating the Camels by 26.
 
Connecticut College's scoring efforts were led by Jaycie Rojik, who had 15 points and additionally tallied eight rebounds.
 
The Cardinals were led by Marina Petruzzi who scored 25 points.
 
Connecticut College (2-13, NESCAC 0-3) will return home to face the Trinity Bantams next Saturday at 3 p.m.