NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's basketball team fell by a 65-52 final in a NESCAC showdown against Williams College on Saturday afternoon at Luce Field House.

Williams (11-5 overall, 2-2 NESCAC) trailed by five at intermission but bounced back in the second half, outscoring Conn by a 39-21 margin. Arianna Gerig led four Ephs in double figures with 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting and added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Ellie Tounkara chipped in 13 points and five boards, and Micah Walton and Cortland Mcbarron contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Mia Xerras (Charlotte, N.C.) led Conn with 11 points and shot 3-for-7 from deep. Catherine Cole (Lebanon, N.H.) and Valeria Santiago Dedos (Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico) tacked on eight points apiece. 

The Camels got off to a strong start, outscoring the Ephs 22-14 in the opening quarter. Xerras capped the period with a three to give Conn its largest lead of the afternoon. The hosts spread the wealth on the offensive end, with seven players contributing points in the stanza.

Williams opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run to seize the lead. After a jumper by Walton pushed the Ephs in front 26-24 with 3:42 left in the half, Conn responded with seven unanswered points—punctuated by a three from Avery Burns (Orleans, Mass.) in the final minute—to give the Camels a 31-26 advantage at intermission.

The Ephs pulled in front for good midway through the third, and outscored the Camels 14-6 in the period. Conn's points came on threes by Xerras and Hallie O'Toole (Wilbraham, Mass.), but the hosts trailed 40-37 heading into the fourth.

Williams opened the final stanza with 11 straight points—five of which came from Tounkara—to build the lead to 51-37 with 6:26 to go. The Ephs extended the margin to as many as 18 before the final buzzer, and Tounkara poured in 10 total points in the period.

Conn (10-8 overall, 0-4 NESCAC) will next host Tufts University on Saturday, January 25 at 3:00 p.m.