MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Wesleyan University women's basketball team lost a heartbreaker to Little Three rival and No. 8 Amherst on Friday night in Silloway Gymnasium, 53-49. An extremely close game from the opening tip, Friday's contest featured 10 ties with the largest margin a six-point advantage by the Cardinals with 8:49 to play in regulation.

Caleigh Ryan led the way for Wesleyan with 18 points as the home team dropped to 11-8 overall and 1-4 in the NESCAC. Hannah Fox went on a 7-1 run by herself in the closing minutes of the game to lead the comeback victory for the Mammoths as they improved to 17-3 and 4-2. Fox finished with a game-high 20 points.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• The first half featured back and forth action for all 20 minutes as neither team was able to pull away.
• Both teams came out strong offensively in the first quarter as Maggie Lee led the way for the Cardinals with eight points on 2-3 shooting from downtown.
• Amherst led for most of the first, leading by as much as five, but a 3-pointer from Lee with 30 seconds remaining gave the home team a 19-18 advantage after 10 minutes of play.
• After a strong offensive performance from both teams in the first, the defenses stepped up in the second as the two teams combined for 17 points.
• Again, neither team was able to pull away as they exchanged points the entire way.
• With time running down, Ava Tompkins grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a layup before the clock expired as the Little Three rivals were tied 27-27 at the break.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• Wesleyan came out strong to start the second half as it went on a 6-2 run capped off by a layup from Katy O'Connor.
• Following the run, the home team would hold a lead for the majority of the quarter. Ryan scored the final seven points for the Cardinals as they took a 45-42 lead into the fourth.
• The Cardinals extended their lead to six early in the quarter before both teams went cold.
• Wesleyan held Amherst scoreless until the 3:28 mark when Maggie Shipley snapped the streak by converting a three-point play to cut the deficit to three, 48-45.
• Shortly after, with 1:40 to play, Fox hit one from downtown to even the score.
• After a free throw by O'Connor, Fox converted a pair of foul shots on the other end with 25 seconds remaining and Amherst's stifling defense made it difficult for the Cardinals to get off a good shot.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Ryan was the lone player in double-digits for Wesleyan. Tompkins led the team with seven rebounds and a game-high seven assists, and Lee led all bench players with eight points.
• Amherst received all of its scoring from its starters. Joining Fox in double-digits was Madeline Eck with 16 and Shipley with 11. Fox also pulled in a game-high eight rebounds and Cam Hendricks led the team with two assists.
• Wesleyan held a 44-32 rebounding edge and did not allow any second chance points.

UP NEXT:

• The Cardinals are back in action on Sunday, Feb. 2 as they host Hamilton at 2 p.m.