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BABSON PARK, Mass. - Babson College head coach Judy
Blinstrub became just the 28th coach in NCAA Division III
Women's Basketball history to win 400 career games as her team
defeated visiting Bridgewater State College, 64-49, in a
non-conference matchup at Staake Gymnasium on Thursday night. It
was the fourth straight victory for the Beavers (4-1), while the
Bears (3-2) saw their three-game win streak come to a halt.
A Bridgewater State alumna and member of the Bears' Athletics
Hall of Fame, Blinstrub's victory over her alma mater improved her
career record to 400-241 (.624) in 25 seasons at the helm of the
Babson women's basketball program. She is only the 21st active
coach to reach the 400-win mark, and with 200 victories in her
former role as Babson's head women's soccer coach, she is the only
women's coach in NCAA history (Division I, II, or III) to win 400
basketball and 200 soccer games in her career.
Leading by just one at the break, 31-30, Babson surged to
victory with a dominating defensive performance in the second half.
Led by first-year Kathleen King (Framingham,
Mass.), who collected 12 of her game-high 16 rebounds in
the final 20 minutes, the Beavers limited Bridgewater State to just
19 points on 7-of-33 shooting in the period while forcing 14
turnovers. Meanwhile, six different players scored during a pivotal
16-4 run early in the half that turned a 31-31 tie into a 47-35
Babson advantage. The Beavers' lead would eventually balloon to as
many as 18 on their way to the 64-49 victory.
For the second time this season, King and fellow first-year
Nicole Wurdeman (Rowley, Mass.) each recorded
double-doubles for Babson. King finished with 19 points and 16
boards while shooting 8-for-12 from the field, while Wurdeman
recovered from early foul trouble to finish with 12 points and 10
rebounds. First-year Michelle Kenel (Rockaway Beach,
N.Y.) added an outstanding performance off the bench for
the Beavers, as she netted eight points on 4-of-8 shooting while
grabbing five rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Junior
Becky Bowman (Melrose, Mass.) chipped in with 10
points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals, and
sophomore Renay Hamilton (Lynn, Mass.) contributed
seven points and five caroms.
Bridgewater State was led by sophomore Carolyn Swanson
(Stoughton, Mass.), who shot 6-for-11 from the field to finish with
15 points, five rebounds, and three steals, and first-year
Stephanie Houtman (New Bedford, Mass.), who added nine points and a
team-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore Corey Cuddihy (Scituate, Mass.)
tossed in 13 points for the Bears, and junior Michaela Johnson
(Riverside, R.I.) contributed four assists and three steals off the
bench.