MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Despite leading for over 25 minutes of play, the Wesleyan women's basketball team saw a nine-point lead to start the fourth quarter disappear in a 73-62 loss to No. 25 nationally-ranked Bowdoin on Friday night from Silloway Gymnasium. The Polar Bears (10-2, 1-0 NESCAC) avenge a home loss to the Cardinals (5-7, 0-1 NESCAC) last season in the conference opener for both sides.
 
Wesleyan put together some of its best basketball of the season in this contest, shooting 46 percent from the floor while seeing Tori DaCosta '25 put up a career-high 25 points, but it wasn't enough as the Polar Bears went on an extended fourth quarter run to capture the win.
 
The Cardinals started strong with a 21-point opening quarter, shooting 9-for-14 from the floor while hitting two three-pointers to build a seven-point leader after one. Six different Cardinals scored in the frame with DaCosta scoring six to lead all players.
 
Neither side shot well in the second quarter as the two teams combined to shoot 9-for-32 (28.1 percent) but the Polar Bears managed to hit four three's compared to just one for Wesleyan to shave five points off the Cardinal lead and trail by just two at the break.
 
Wesleyan made some halftime adjustments and put up 22 third quarter points, including 14 from DaCosta alone, to build the 56-47 lead heading into the fourth. DaCosta scored 10 consecutive Wesleyan points to finish out the quarter, the last of which coming off a perfect feed from Maggie Lee '23 that made it a nine-point game entering the fourth.
 
In the face of the Cardinal wave of momentum, the Polar Bears proved up to the challenge, outscoring Wesleyan 26-6 in the fourth to claim the victory. Sydney Jones scored 10 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter alone while Bowdoin held the Cardinals to just five shot attempts while forcing Wesleyan into 13 turnovers to propel the visitors to the win.
 
DaCosta was outstanding for the Cardinals as the sophomore turned in a career-high 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting with eight rebounds and four blocks in 30 minutes. This is DaCosta's first time going over 20 points in her career while she bests her previous season and career-high of 18 which came in a win at Plattsburgh State on November 12.
 
Brooke Guiffre '23 also netted double figures as she tallied 13 on 5-for-11 shooting with five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 38 minutes. Alana Jones '24 added six points, four rebounds, and seven assists. Oliva Quinn '26 came off the bench and finished with seven points, six rebounds, and two assists.
 
Jones led the Polar Bears with 22 points (6-11 FG, 3-4 3FG, 7-8 FT) while adding four rebounds and five steals. Sela Kay finished with 17 points and three steals while Carly Davey recorded seven points and five assists.
 
Wesleyan looks to rebound with a 3 PM tip on Saturday at home against Colby.