Feb. 24, 2007

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WORCESTER, Mass. - The sixth-seeded Babson College women's basketball team saw its postseason run come to an end on Saturday, as the Beavers fell to second-seeded Mount Holyoke College, 73-71, in a double-overtime thriller in the NEWMAC Semifinals at WPI. With the loss, Babson finished the season with a record of 13-14.

Senior Suzy Ward was magnificent in defeat for Babson, recording a team-high 22 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in her final collegiate game. Junior Caitlin Boulier was also tremendous for the Beavers, netting 21 points with five three-pointers, and junior Linsey Poulson added 14 points and eight boards. Senior captain Colleen Burke paced the team with six assists while also collecting four rebounds.

Things looked bleak for the Beavers after Mount Holyoke drained a three-pointer to take a 60-58 lead with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. However, Ward came up with a big offensive rebound to keep Babson's ensuing possession alive, and Boulier followed with the game-tying jumper from the right baseline with 5.4 seconds left. The Lyons then missed a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer as the contest went into overtime.

Babson again found itself in a hole in the first OT, as MHC surged out to a 65-60 advantage with 2:35 remaining. The Beavers still trailed by the same margin, 67-62, with under two mintues to go, but Boulier knocked down a huge three from the left corner with 1:30 left and then netted the tying jumper from the left block with 53.0 seconds remaining.

Mount Holyoke looked to regain the lead with 33 seconds left, but junior Nicole McManus came up with a huge blocked shot to keep the game tied. The Lyons then had another big opportunity in the waning seconds, but a fast-break lay-up as the buzzer sounded was waved off, sending the contest into a second overtime session.

The two teams traded baskets in the opening minute of the second OT before Mount Holyoke grabbed a 71-69 advantage on a foul-line jumper by Angela Astuccio with 3:09 left. Michelle Kowalski added a lay-up at the two minute mark to make it 73-69, but Babson cut it back to one on a nifty scoop shot by McManus with 1:40 remaining. The two teams then traded empty possessions until the closing seconds, when Babson gained control with 10 ticks left. The Beavers eventually got the ball into the hands of Boulier, but the junior guard's contested three-point attempt came up short as the buzzer sounded, resulting in the 73-71 MHC win.