Wheaton opens season with tough 85-80 double-overtime loss to Colby in tip-off tourney, Lyons face Husson in consolation

November 17, 2007

WILLIMANTIC, CT- The Wheaton College women's basketball team opened its season by overcoming a 14-point first-half deficit and forcing two overtimes against Colby College during Saturday night's Eastern Connecticut State University Tip-Off Tournament before dropping an 85-80 final in Geissler Gymnasium. The Lyons look to salvage a weekend split in tomorrow's consolation game at 1:00 p.m. against Husson College, which suffered a 79-51 setback to Eastern earlier tonight.

Junior Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) gave Wheaton leads of 1-0 and 4-2 in just over one minute of action before the Mules scored the next seven points, as Colby maintained its lead until a little more than two minutes remained in regulation. A lay-up from senior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) at 12:15 trimmed the Lyon deficit to 13-10, but Colby rattled off 11 straight to hold a comfortable 24-10 advantage. Wheaton got nine of those right back and trailed 24-19 at 5:47, but the Mules eventually extended their lead back to double figures and entered the half up 10.

Wheaton brought the differential back to five on an Aitchison basket 5:10 into the second half. The Lyons got as close as two on three occasions and eventually knotted the score at 62 thanks to a Smith three at 2:07. The squads traded two-point baskets and a pair of free throws for the game's second and third ties. The teams combined to miss five lay-ups in the waning seconds to force the extra session.

The Lyons carried their second-half momentum into the first overtime, as Wheaton led for a good chunk of the five-minute frame, including taking its initial lead since 4-2 on a jumper by sophomore Andrea Bailey (Needham, MA/Needham) at 3:23. Four straight freebies from Bailey and Aitchison provided the Blue and White with its largest lead of the game, 74-70 at 1:42, but the Lyons didn't score the rest of the way, and the Mules converted a lay-in with 1:04 on the clock and two free throws with 18 ticks left. Wheaton had possession near the end of the second half and during the conclusion of the first overtime but came away empty each time, thus extending the contest into a second extra session.

Sophomore Jenny Champney (Bedford, MA/Bedford) knocked down a foul shot with 4:40 left for the Lyons' only lead of the second overtime. The Mules used a 9-1 run during a two-minute span to pull ahead for good, as Wheaton got no closer than five. The Lyons played in their first overtime game since last year's Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament semifinal win against Rhode Island College and initial double-overtime contest in nine years.

Aitchison led three Wheaton double-figure scorers with 22 points to go along with a game-high seven steals and four assists. Junior Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) was one rebound shy of a double-double following her 20 points and nine boards, as well as a game-best six assists, while Champney did land a double-double, the first of her career, with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Smith added nine points, and Bailey had eight points and six boards.

Colby senior Katie McCabe (Watertown, CT/Taft School), who is the lone upperclassman on the team, exploded for 30 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Julianne Kowalski (Montville, NJ/Montville) had a memorable college debut with 16 markers and 15 boards, while sophomore Alison Cappelloni (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) turned in 14 points and 14 rebounds.

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