Wesleyan Moves Past Williams in Women's Basketball Quarterfinals
Courtesy Wesleyan Sports Information
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Defeating Williams at home for the second time in a week, Wesleyan advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 NESCAC Women's Basketball Championship behind a 68-49 victory in the matchup between the third and sixth seeds today. Wesleyan will take on second-seeded Tufts, which knocked off Middlebury in its first-round contest, while Final Four host and top-seeded Amherst will meet Bowdoin in the other semi-final Saturday, March 1.
In almost a mirror image of the 65-47 Wesleyan win over Williams to end the regular season Feb. 23, Wesleyan opened an early double-digit lead in the first half, held a cozy halftime lead, began the second half with a good run and never let Williams get close throughout the second half.
The Cardinals scored the first three baskets of the game, two by senior Lucy Sprung who finished with her ninth double-double of the season behind 18 points and 12 rebounds, game-high honors in both departments. Wesleyan extended the difference to 12-2 after 6:20 of action. Williams did narrow the gap to 12-9 as freshman Chessie Jackson hit a pair from the field along with a free throw en route to her team-high 17 points, but the lead again grew to 10, 31-21, before a final Williams basket made it eight points at intermission.
Hitting three straight baskets again to inaugurate the second period, two by junior Ali Fourney, who leads the NESCAC with her 16.8 PPG figure this season, Wesleyan moved ahead 37-23. The Ephs never cut the lead to single digits the rest of the way as the Cardinals comfortably moved through the teens to eventually hold a 21-point bulge at 60-39 with 5:25 to play, and the teams coasted into the finish.
Fourney finished with 11 points after scoring 23 vs. Williams a week ago. Senior Nikki Maletta added 14 points for the Cardinals while junior Mika Peterman chipped in with 11 points for Williams. Senior Dominique de la Torre paced Williams on the boards with 11, seven on the offensive glass as Williams had 22 offensive rebounds as a team.
