MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Finishing just one point shy of breaking a school record, the Wesleyan women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a dominating 102-35 win over Rosemont on Saturday night in opening round play of the Courtyard by Marriott Classic.
The Cardinals' 102 points scored is one point behind the school record, set on December 30, 2017 in a 103-35 win over Goucher in a neutral site game played in Nashville, Tennessee. The 67-point margin-of-victory is the largest win for Wesleyan since defeating Maine-Presque Isle 98-22 on December 1, 2017.
All 12 Cardinals that saw the floor scored at least one field goal to highlight the win.
Tori DaCosta '25 was nearly perfect, finishing 7-for-8 from the floor, scoring 16 points with nine rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes.
Olivia Quinn '26 went for 12 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.
Felicia Fongemie '27 put in a game-high 18 points in her debut, going 7-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-5 from three with six rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.
Madi Gomez '24 went 3-for-5 from three on her way to 13 points and five rebounds, giving the Cardinals four in double figures.
Back-to-back 30+ point quarters saw Wesleyan build a 61-21 halftime lead. The Cardinals shot 60 percent from the floor in the first quarter alone, going 12-for-20 overall and 3-for-6 from three. Wesleyan followed that up with a 6-for-10 showing from three-point territory in the second quarter.
The Cardinals finished the first quarter on an 11-0 run as Quinn scored nine of her 12 points while Gomez scored seven of her 13 in the stanza. The second quarter was much of the same, as Wesleyan held Rosemont without a field goal for 5:20 consecutive minutes, building a 39-point lead in the process. Ten different Cardinals scored in the second quarter as the lead swelled to as many as 41 points before halftime.
Wesleyan leaned on their bench unit for most of the third quarter, outscoring the Ravens 24-11 in the frame with 18 of the 24 points coming from players coming off the bench.
Lena Benway '25 was heavily involved with six points and three assists in the third quarter alone.
The game ended with the Cardinals allowing just three points in the fourth quarter, as Rosemont went 1-for-12 from the floor in the final 10 minutes with seven turnovers.
For the game, Wesleyan outscored Rosemont 58-0 in bench points, 39-2 in fast break points, 23-2 in second chance points, 58-6 in points in the paint, and 25-4 in points off turnovers. The Cardinals also won the rebounding battle by a +32 margin (62-30) as eight different Cardinals grabbed at least five rebounds.
Wesleyan dished out assists on 32-of-41 made field goals for the game and committed just 10 turnovers.
Maggie Lee '23 went for nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Kate King '27 posted eight points, six assists, and four rebounds in her debut.
Alli Jones '27 went for five points and six rebounds with two steals.
Abby Gray tallied four points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Alana Jones '24 totaled seven assists to lead all players.
The Cardinals conclude the Courtyard by Marriott Classic on Sunday at 3 PM against the University of New England.
