Jan. 23, 2008

Box Score

WELLESLEY, Mass. - Senior co-captain Caitlin Boulier (Wolcott, Conn.) became the 12th player in Babson College women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, but it was not enough to prevent a 84-75 double-overtime loss to Wellesley in a thrilling NEWMAC matchup on Wednesday night. With the defeat, the Beavers saw their record fall to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

Boulier led a handful of brilliant individual performances for Babson, as she fell just four assists shy of a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and six helpers. With her 14th point of the night, she reached 1,000 in her career, making her the 12th woman in Babson history to reach that plateau. She now has 1,006 points in 96 career games - good for a 10.5 scoring average.

Also posting big numbers for the Beavers were senior co-captain Nicole McManus (Baldwinsville, N.Y.), who scored eight points and grabbed a career high 18 rebounds - including 12 off the offensive glass. First-year Rebecca Bowman (Melrose, Mass.) added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while senior Linsey Poulson (Leominster, Mass.) tossed in 13 points and grabbed five boards while shooting 6-for-10 from the field. Senior Caitlin Fenn (Niantic, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points and a game-high six steals. The Beavers recorded 15 thefts on the night, including three apiece by junior Becky Pelletier (Harwinton, Conn.) and sophomore Sarah Hughes (Wellesley, Mass.).

Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK) and Courtney Pelley (Leicester, MA) combined for 44 points in the win for Wellesley, lifting the Blue to 5-10 overall and 2-3 in NEWMAC play.

In a first half that featured cold shooting and eight lead changes, neither team was able to take charge, with Babson holding a 29-27 edge at the break. The Beavers threatened to break away early in the second half, as they opened a 33-27 lead in the opening minutes. But Wellesley bounced back with a layup from Duff and back-to-back three-pointers from Courtney Richter (Sinking Springs, MD) and Katie Martore (Great Falls, VA) to retake the lead 37-35.

Babson followed with six unanswered points, including two jumpers from Pelletier and one from Boulier, to take a 41-37 advantage, threatening once again to break the game open. But Wellesley caught fire from three-point land, as Pelley sank three from beyond the line and Laura Barrett (Dobbs Ferry, NY) drained one, once again giving the Blue the lead at 51-48.

The Beavers tied the score at 57-57 at the 2:45 mark, when Bowman sank a short jumper. Wellesley responded with back-to-back freethrows from Duff, then two defensive stops and two more freethrows from Duff for a 61-57 lead with 1:35 remaining. But with 50 seconds left, Boulier cut the lead to two with a 10-foot jumper. Bowman then tied the score at 61-61 with a layup at the 19-second mark. A jump ball under the Wellesley basket gave Babson possession, but Duff tied up Bowman's last-second layup attempt to send the game into overtime.

In the opening two minutes of the extra period, the Blue opened a five-point lead at 69-64. The Beavers fought back, knotting the score at 71-71 with 45 seconds left in the period. After a key defensive stop, the guests called timeout to set up their closing play. Boulier's jumper was wide left and Duff grabbed the rebound to force another overtime.

The second overtime period opened with a free throw from Duff and a 15-footer from Boulier to give Babson a 73-72 edge. Pelley sank a three-pointer to give the Blue a 75-73 lead with 3:00 on the clock. The Beavers responded with six-footer from Poulson to tie the game at 75-75. Back-to-back freethrows from Martore gave the hosts a two-point edge with 1:30 left. The Blue held Babson scoreless in the next possession, and Martore sank a three-pointer to give Wellesley a five-point cushion with 40 seconds left. Duff sank another freethrow, stretching the lead to 81-75. Another point from the charity stripe and a layup at the buzzer gave the Blue the 84-75 victory.

NOTE: Taken from a Wellesley College press release.