McCormack's buzzer beater gives Wheaton second consecutive last-second victory over Tufts

January 23, 2007

MEDFORD, MA- Senior Kim McCormack's (Milton, MA/Milton) lay-up at the buzzer gave the Wheaton College women's basketball team a dramatic 63-62 non-conference victory over Tufts University Tuesday night in Cousens Gymnasium, as the Lyons knocked off the Jumbos on a last-second shot for the second straight season. A winner in seven of its last eight games, Wheaton improves to 11-6 overall, while Tufts suffered just its first loss in five games to fall to 11-6.

Junior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic), whose last-gasp three-pointer a year ago provided the Lyons with a thrilling 62-59 victory against the Jumbos, was credited with the assist on McCormack's game-winner as time expired. Sophomore Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) led Wheaton with a season-high-tying 23 points by shooting 7-of-15 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line and a team-best eight rebounds.

Tufts matched its largest lead at 47-40 with 10:45 remaining in the game, but Wheaton used a 10-2 run to take a 50-49 edge on a Hickey bucket at 7:46. Hickey scored six points during that stretch. Seven lead changes and a pair of ties highlighted the last eight minutes of play, as the Hickey jumper gave the visitors their first second-half lead and first advantage since 5:12 of the opening stanza.

A lay-up by junior Khalilah Ummah (Litchfield, ME/Waynflete School) at 6:35 gave the Jumbos a slim 54-52 lead they would hold for nearly four minutes. A Wheaton three by sophomore Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) at the 2:35 mark knotted the game at 58 and, following a Tufts turnover, the Lyons had four chances on the next possession to take the lead before giving the ball back to the hosts. After a Jumbo lay-in, Hickey drained a huge long-range shot as Wheaton carried a one-point edge into the final minute of play.

The Lyons had a chance to extend their lead after a Tufts miss, but Wheaton turned the ball over, and the Jumbos capitalized on a lay-up from senior Valerie Krah (Mountain Lakes, NJ/Mountain Lakes) with nine ticks on the clock. Wheaton called timeout with six seconds left and, with time winding down, Aitchison found a wide-open McCormack, who easily dropped her righthanded lay-up through the hoop.

The Lyons, who trailed by four at halftime, turned in a solid shooting performance. Wheaton made 63.6 percent of its three-pointers, 80.0 percent of its free throws and 45.3 percent from the field overall. Smith was the only other play in double figures with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Aitchison had eight points, four rebounds and three assists, while senior Casey Sorbara (Port Chester, NY/Trinity Catholic) added five helpers and three steals.

For Tufts, which shot 38.7 percent from the floor, 30.0 percent from beyond the arc and 61.1 percent from the charity stripe, Krah posted 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Ummah collected 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while senior Laura Jasinski (Leverett, MA/Amherst) nearly locked down a double-double with nine points and nine boards.

Wheaton concludes its non-conference slate Thursday night with a home game against the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth at 7:00 p.m.

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