MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – In a game the Wesleyan women's basketball team never trailed, the Cardinals were put the test down the stretch but came through in the end for a 69-64 win over Clark University on Tuesday night from Silloway Gymnasium. Wesleyan improves to 3-2 heading into the Thanksgiving break, knocking off the previously undefeated Cougars (6-1).
Despite leading for almost 37 minutes of game time, the Cardinals' biggest lead was just nine points which came just over three minutes into the first quarter as Wesleyan jumped out to a 11-2 lead. The two sides traded buckets for a majority of the first, with the score showing Wesleyan out in front 24-18 in a frame wherein the two sides combined to score 42 points.
After an offensive explosion in the first, it took nearly two minutes of game clock for either side to make a field goal in the second quarter. Both defenses bounced back in a big way in the second quarter, with the two sides combining to shoot 10-for-34 (29.4 percent) from the floor. Right after Clark cut the deficit to two points, Wesleyan went on a 7-0 run, holding the Cougars scoreless for 4:10 straight minutes. The roller coaster ride continued with Clark going on a 7-0 run to trail 33-31 but a crucial
Olivia Quinn '26 three-pointer in the closing seconds made it 38-31 Cardinals at halftime.
Clark used their defense to cut into the Wesleyan lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 19-12 while holding the hosts to just 25 percent shooting in the frame. The Cougars cut the deficit to 46-43 midway through the frame and eventually tied the score for the first time since early in the first quarter at 50-50 at the end of three.
Wesleyan buckled down in the fourth quarter, limiting Clark to a 4-for-17 showing (23.5 percent) from the floor, while going 0-for-6 from three. The two sides traded baskets for the first 3+ minutes, until an 9-0 Wesleyan run made it 65-56 Cardinals with 3:07 left. As they did the whole game, Clark had an answer, responding with eight unanswered points to make it a 65-64 game.
Looking to answer back, Fongemie ended up fouling out with an offensive foul call at the basket. With their leading scorer now out, the Cardinals made a gritty defensive stand and withstood defensive pressure to force Clark into two fouls, the second of which put the Cougars over the limit. Stepping to the line and making both was Quinn, making it 67-64 Wesleyan with 17.7 seconds left.
Choosing to go for a three-pointer to tie the score, Cyriah Coleman saw her three-point attempt blocked by
Madie Dayton '28, who had just subbed on for Fongemie a minute prior. Dayton grabbed he loose ball and passed to
Alli Jones '27 who was fouled dribbling up the floor with 2.2 seconds left.
Needing to make just one of the two attempts to make it a two-possession game, Jones sank both, giving the Cardinals a five-point cushion which proved more than enough in the end for a 69-64 victory.
Fongemie led the way with 20 points (8-13 FG) for her second 20-point game of the season and fourth of her career. Quinn racked up 19 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and seventh of her career. She added three assists and a career-high six blocks in 36 minutes.
Jones finished 10-for-11 at the free throw line on her way to 14 points and seven rebounds in just 26 minutes.
Chika Oyigbo '26 added eight points while
Tori DaCosta '25 came off the bench to finish with eight points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high five assists.
Wesleyan finished +11 in rebounding margin (48-37) and had nine blocks as a team, which is the highest single-game total since the Cardinals had 13 against The City College of New York (CCNY) back on November 26, 2019.
The Cardinals held Clark, which came in averaging 81.9 points per game (11th-best in the nation), to a season-low 64 points on 31.4 percent shooting from the floor (22-70 FG) and 20 percent from three (4-20 3FG).
The Cardinals enjoy a five-day break between games before heading to Amherst on Monday for a 7 PM tip in the non-conference Little Three clash with the Mammoths.
