For Immediate Release – Jan. 13, 2007
WELLESLEY BASKETBALL
Contact: Julie Triba
Email: jtriba@wellesley.edu
Coast Guard's Late Surge Sinks Wellesley, 45-42
WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College basketball team dominated early but could not hold off a late charge by the Coast Guard Academy, falling 45-42 at home on Saturday. With the loss, the Blue drop to 3-10, and Coast Guard improves to 8-5.
The Blue started strong, opening a 12-point lead midway through the first half behind 14 points from Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK) and four from Courtney Pelley (Leicester, Mass.) as six players scored in the half. Katie Martore (Great Falls, Va.) dished out six early assists and Evelyn Boettcher (Tulsa, Okla.) grabbed four rebounds.
After Corinne McCormack (Springfield, Pa.) pulled Coast Guard within five points, draining a three-pointer with just under a minute remaining in the half, Wellesley regained possession and took a 27-20 lead into the break.
Wellesley opened the second half at the same quick pace, with early scores by Duff and Julia Thomas (Concord, Calif.) maintaining momentum for the Blue. Coast Guard responded with a 14-4 run to close the gap to 40-39, and with just under three minutes remaining, McCormack scored to give Coast Guard a 43-42 advantage and their first lead of the game. A pair of free throws by Natalie Moyer (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Laura Hutchinson (Waynesboro, Va.) pushed the score to 45-42, and a three-point attempt by Duff bounced off the back of the rim as time expired.
Duff led Wellesley with 19 points, and Thomas pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and chipped in two blocks. Coast Guard’s Moyer led all scorers with 20 points.
The Blue return to action on Wednesday in a 7 p.m. home contest against Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
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