Wheaton wins eighth in nine tries by downing UMass-Dartmouth, 74-60

January 25, 2007

NORTON, MA- Ten different Lyons had a hoop as the Wheaton College women's basketball team put forth a balanced scoring effort during a 74-60 non-conference victory over the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth on Thursday evening in Emerson Gymnasium. The Blue and White, which has won eight of its last nine games, improved to 12-6 on the season, while the Corsairs fell to 4-14.

UMass-Dartmouth used a 7-0 run to forge an 18-14 edge with 8:11 remaining in the period on senior Merideth Morgan's (Amherst, MA/Williston Northampton School) free throw before Wheaton took control. Senior Samara Audet (Derry, NH/Trinity) scored the first five points during an 18-3 run over 5:36 to help the Lyons open a 32-21 lead. Junior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) and freshman Ida Kruse (Vershire, VT/Rivendell Academy) notched four points apiece during the run. Wheaton took a 36-27 lead into halftime behind 48.4 percent shooting, and the Corsairs shot 45.5 percent but committed 12 turnovers, exactly twice as many as the hosts.

The Lyons tallied 13 of the first 18 points in the second half to make it a 49-32 game by 13:40, and Wheaton never again led by fewer than 11 points. The Blue and White's lead opened up to as many as 21 points at 72-51 before the visitors finished the game on a 9-2 run.

For the game, Wheaton committed a season-low eight turnovers, cutting in half its previous best for the campaign. The Lyons recorded 21 assists on 29 baskets, as the Blue and White shot 45.3 percent while collecting 11 steals. Of the 10 Lyons who scored, seven notched between 12 and seven points.

Aitchison and Audet each recorded a game-high 12 points, with Aitchison shooting 6-of-8 and handing out four assists, and Audet nailing two three-pointers. Sophomore Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) had 10 points thanks to 4-of-4 free throw shooting, while classmate Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) notched nine points on 4-of-6 shooting with three assists in 15 minutes off the bench. Kruse added eight points and three steals in 10 minutes as a reserve, while freshman Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA/Bedford) had eight points in 12 minutes off the bench. Senior Kim McCormack (Milton, MA/Milton) notched seven points and five rebounds, while classmate Casey Sorbara (Port Chester, NY/Trinity Catholic) had four assists and three steals in 16 minutes.

For UMass-Dartmouth, Morgan tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while freshman reserve Elise Robidoux (Southampton, MA/Hampshire Regional) also had 11 points thanks to hitting three three-pointers. Junior Joya Davis (Alexandria, VA/Mount Vernon) added nine points off the bench thanks to 4-of-4 shooting. As a team, the Corsairs committed 22 turnovers and outshot the Lyons, shooting at a 45.7 percent clip.

Wheaton, which is locked in a four-way tie for first place in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), puts its 5-1 league mark on the line at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 1/31/07.
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