written by: Sarah Brown '23
WATERVILLE, Me. - The Wesleyan women's basketball team fell to Colby, 73-66, in a back-and-forth game on Friday night at Margaret M. Crook Center. The Mules took advantage of an aggressive Wesleyan defense, shooting 24-for-31 from the free throw line which ultimately sealed the win for Colby. This loss puts the Cardinals 10-12 on the season and 3-6 in the NESCAC, while the Mules advance to 10-9 overall and 2-8 in the NESCAC.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Cardinals started strong on the court as the score remained close throughout the first quarter. Wesleyan's offensive rebounding helped the Cardinals push ahead in the last three minutes of the game as a putback by Caleigh Ryan '22 pushed the Cardinals into a 11-7 lead. The Mules were able to gain a one-point lead 13-12 with two free throws at the end of the quarter by Carly Christofori
- The Mules led the second quarter with an ambitious defense and full court press against the Cardinals, as a three-pointer from Keagan Dunbar increased the Mules' lead to 20-14 within the first three minutes. The Cardinals continued to push back and were able to create full court breaks that resulted in two back-to-back three-pointers by Maggie Lee '23 and Marina Petruzzi '22 that allowed Wesleyan to cut the point deficit to 26-25. The first half closed out with the Mules in the lead 29-25
- Wesleyan and Colby both came out quick in the second half, as a combined total of 13 points and two steals set the precedent for the remainder of the half as both teams pressured one another on offense. Brooke Guiffre '23 and Petruzzi were able to secure a combined nine points from the three-point line early in the half, as the Cardinals again made it a one-point game at 39-38. The Mules continued to hit from all over the floor, showing impressive range as Adobe Nebuwa netted a deep three that sent the Colby crowd into a frenzy, increasing the Colby lead to 44-40 which later extended to 55-43 in favor of the Mules
- The Cardinals pressured the Mules defensively throughout the final quarter, as Wesleyan's full court press throughout the latter half of the quarter pressured the Colby offense. Maddie Clark '22 scored a layup that accompanied a Mule foul as she was able to contribute three quick points to the Wesleyan scoreboard, making it 56-52 with five minutes remaining. Caroline Smith, however, was able to score 10 points throughout the fourth quarter, all of which from the free throw line as Wesleyan continued to prioritize their defensive efforts. A steal by Christofori in the last thirty seconds of the game sealed the win for Colby 73-66
IMPACTFUL PLAYERS:
- Clark led Wesleyan with 18 points and came in clutch for the Cardinals scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter
- Ryan had a well-rounded game scoring eight points, contributing 13 rebounds and four assists. This marked Ryan's sixth straight game with at least 13 rebounds.
- Carter McGloon had 20 points for Colby
- Caroline Smith achieved a double-double, scoring 20 points with 10 rebounds as a leading forward for Colby
UP NEXT:
Wesleyan continues the weekend with their last NESCAC regular season matchup against Bowdoin (16-7, 5-4) on Sunday, February 13 at 2:00 PM against the Polar Bears.
