MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The Wesleyan women's basketball team overcame a seven-point first quarter deficit, getting a career-high 30-point game from Olivia Quinn '26 on the way to a 63-54 win over Emerson in the Courtyard by Marriott Classic title game on Sunday afternoon from Silloway Gymnasium. With the win, the Cardinals (2-0) earn the Courtyard by Marriott title for the sixth time in nine seasons.
 
Quinn was the key piece throughout, scoring 15 points in each half on her way to her first career 30-point game. She finished 12-of-20 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three-point range while adding 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 36 minutes of work. The 12 rebounds is just one shy of her career-high while this marks her ninth career double-double. The big-time effort, combined with a 15-point, 9-rebound showing in last night's win over Hunter, saw Quinn crowned Tournament MVP.
 
A tough start to the contest saw Emerson score seven unanswered points, holding Wesleyan scoreless for the final 4:42 of the first quarter, as the Lions held a 16-9 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Cardinal defense flipped a switch in that second stanza, as Emerson missed 12 consecutive shots in the frame, netting their first and only field goal in the quarter with just over one minute remaining. Wesleyan capitalized and outscored the Lions 15-6 in the quarter behind a 10-point showing from Quinn, to take a 24-22 lead into halftime.
 
Wesleyan found its groove offensively coming out of halftime, scoring on five consecutive possessions while holding Emerson scoreless in that span, opening up a 34-22 lead. The Lions answered back with a 7-0 run, only to see the Cardinals net triples on three straight trips down the floor, with Meghan Kirck '28 hitting a pair and Quinn adding another. Kirck's second triple gave Wesleyan a 14-point lead, but the Lions hung in and a Jessie Silk buzzer-beating three made it 45-38 Cardinals heading into the fourth.
 
The Cardinals' lead remained in single digits until a game-deciding 7-0 run as Quinn started with a three-point play then finished in the paint off a feed from Madie Dayton '28 and Dayton made it 61-46 with a three-pointer. That 15-point margin was the largest Wesleayn lead of the game and the Cardinals went on to close out a 63-54 win.
 
Wesleyan shot over 50 percent in the second half, going 16-for-29 from the floor as a team and 6-of-10 from three on their way to a 39-point half.
 
Kirck joined Quinn on the All-Tournament Team as the sophomore guard pumped in 17 points (3-7 3FG) and didn't commit a turnover in 38 minutes. Alli Jones '27 totaled six points, five rebounds, and four assists with no turnovers while Dayton contributed seven points, three rebounds, and three assists. Ali Murphy '27 came off the bench and grabbed 11 rebounds in 22 minutes.
 
The Cardinals hit the road next weekend with a trip to UMass Dartmouth for the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament. Wesleyan opens with the University of New England on Saturday and finish with a showdown against the hosts on Sunday.