Wellesley Athletics News Releases

Wellesley Wins Third Straight with 40-38 Victory over Regis

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Sophomore Julia Thomas (Concord, Calif.) scored with just three ticks left on the clock to lift host Wellesley College to a 40-38 victory over Regis College on Thursday evening in Towne Field House. The win marks the Blue’s third straight as the team improves to 3-5 on the year, while Regis drops to 1-6.

In a low scoring affair, in which the Blue and the Pride shot 25.0% and 23.3 % from the field respectively in the first half, Wellesley grabbed an 8-1 advantage at 5:54 into the contest. Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK), who netted ten points in the first frame, keyed the Blue’s lead as the sophomore scored three of the Blue’s first four baskets. Regis surged back from the deficit in the later minutes of the half as the Pride turned in a 16-6 run in the frame’s final 13 minutes to nab a 17-14 edge at the break.

A quick three baskets by the Blue in the opening two minutes of the second stanza helped Wellesley regain its lead and Duff added the Blue’s fourth unanswered basket to give the Blue a 22-17 edge just 2:12 after the break. Regis again fought back from the deficit and a lay-up by Kimberly Mariotti (Springfield, Mass.) tied the game at 22-22 just two minutes later.

The Pride would hold onto their advantage, leading by as many five, until a free throw by Courtney Richter (Sinking Spring, Pa.) tied the game at 36-36 with 2:22 left on the clock. The Pride answered just six seconds later as Laura Spears (Billerica, Mass.) sunk two free throws at the other end of the court to snag 38-36 edge with 2:14 left to play. Spears’ points, however, would prove to be Regis’ last as Thomas knotted the game again at 38 apiece with 25 ticks left and then scored the game-winning basket with just three second remaining when she finished a pass from first-year Katie Martore (Great Fall, Va.) to give Wellesley the 40-38 victory.

Duff led all scorers with 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Blue to pick up her sixth double-double of the season. Thomas added 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Richter chipped in five points, and Martore dished out seven assists on the night.

Jessica Page (Arlington, Mass.) led the Pride with 10 points and six rebounds. Spears netted nine points and also pulled down six rebounds in the loss.

The Blue will return to action on Saturday when the team travels to Tufts University. Tip off is at 2 p.m. Regis will host Rivier that same afternoon at 1 p.m.