Wheaton women avenge only NEWMAC loss by downing Babson, 80-59

February 7, 2007

NORTON, MA- Sophomore Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) tallied 22 points and classmate Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) went 7-of-8 with a career-high-tying five three-pointers for 19 points to help the Wheaton College women's basketball team avenge its only New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) loss of the season, as the Lyons downed the Babson College Beavers, 80-59 Wednesday night in Emerson Gymnasium.

Maintaining sole possession of first place in the NEWMAC, Wheaton raises its overall record to 16-6 and league mark to 9-1, while Babson slips to 10-11 and 6-4.

Outside of a pair of early ties in the first three minutes of the opening half, Wheaton led for the majority of the frame, including using a 9-2 run during a 3:52 span for a 13-6 advantage. Senior Kim McCormack (Milton, MA/Milton) and freshman Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA/Bedford) combined for seven points in that stretch. Seven straight points by four different Babson players knotted the score at 13, but Smith answered with a pair of threes and junior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) scored four straight for a 23-13 lead at 7:41.

Hickey and sophomore Jennie Pleat (Nashua, NH/Nashua South) helped the Lyons double up the Beavers, 30-15 with 4:56 on the first-half clock, as Hickey scored five straight to cap a 17-2 stretch. The hosts maintained their double-digit advantage the rest of the half, taking a 38-27 lead into the locker room, as Hickey and Smith paced Wheaton with nine points apiece. Senior Suzy Ward (North Attleboro, MA/North Attleboro) led Babson with eight points.

The Lyons opened the second half with a 12-4 run en route to a 50-31 cushion with 16:13 remaining. Hickey led the way with six points during the spurt. Babson cut its deficit to 52-38 on a three from junior Caitlin Boulier (Wolcott, CT/Saint Margaret's-McTernan) at the 14-minute mark, but Wheaton rattled off eight of the game's next 10 points to secure its largest lead at 60-40 midway through the stanza. Smith highlighted the run with a pair of threes. The Beavers got as close as 68-55 with under four minutes left before the Lyons scored 10 of the next 12 points for a 21-point advantage.

Wheaton scored a season-best 80 points on 48.5 percent shooting, including 54.5 percent in the second half, while posting 28 points off turnovers. The Lyons were credited with 17 steals on 26 Babson turnovers. Wheaton also had 21 assists on its 33 field goals while holding a 33-24 rebounding advantage, including 14-2 on the offensive glass. The Beavers shot 47.7 percent for the game and 54.5 percent in the second half.

After missing her first six shots, Hickey made eight of her last nine to finish with a game-best 22 points, six rebounds and game-high-tying four steals. Smith's 19 including 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the three-point arc, while Pleat rounded out the team's double-figure scorers with 12 points. Aitchison and McCormack added eight and seven points, respectively, with Aitchison hauling down a game-best seven rebounds, while she and senior Casey Sorbara (Port Chester, NY/Trinity Catholic) each handed out a game-high-tying six assists with four steals.

Ward, who needed 26 points to become the 11th Beaver player to hit the 1,000-point milestone, finished with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting with five rebounds. Sophomore Rebecca Pelletier (Harwinton, CT/Lewis S. Mills) had nine points, while Boulier and freshman Sam Bartman (Upton, MA/Nipmuc Regional) each finished with eight markers. Boulier also contributed six assists and four blocks.

Wheaton looks to secure a first-round playoff home game for the first time since 1995-96 when it hosts Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) on Saturday. The Lyons are slated to follow the Wheaton men at 3:00 p.m.

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