BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior Katelyn Mollica (Foxborough, Mass.) scored a team-high 13 points and Babson College shot a season-best 52.5 percent to defeat visiting Wellesley College, 80-51, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action on Wednesday night inside Staake Gymnasium.

With its fourth straight win, Babson improves to 10-10 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Wellesley has dropped six consecutive games to fall to 7-11 overall and 0-6 in the NEWMAC. 

Sophomore Chloe Perreault (Danbury, Conn.) finished with 10 points and five rebounds, senior Madison Odam (San Jose, Calif.) scored eight points and juniors Emily Flynn (Hanover, Mass.) and Camilla Silk (Medfield, Mass.) both added seven points to lead the Beavers. Senior Rachel McMenemy (Northborough, Mass.) chipped in with six points and junior Megan Goode (Chelmsford, Mass.) contributed four points, five boards and a game-high three assists in the victory. 

First-year Mirella Funari (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished with game highs of 15 points and four steals, sophomore Yitzel Serna (Palmdale, Calif.) scored 13 points and junior Caitlin Windross (Eastvale, Calif.) added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds to pace the Blue. 

Odam, Flynn and McMenemy combined for 15 points as the Green and White shot 56.3 percent to build a 23-11 late in the first quarter. Wellesley got seven points from Funari early in the second and pulled within 29-25 on a layup by Windross before the Beavers responded with a 17-3 run over the final 4:13 of the frame. 

Mollica followed back-to-back jumpers by Miller and Perreault with a pair of three-pointers to make it 39-25 with 1:42 to go, and then canned her third triple of the stanza after free throws by Odam and Flynn to push Babson's advantage to 46-28 at the half. The Blue scored on its opening possession of the third quarter but the Beavers answered with a 12-2 spurt that included trifectas by Perreault and first-year Samantha Reale (North Attleboro, Mass.) to stretch their lead to 58-32 with 4:26 to go in the period.

Wellesley cut its deficit to 19 on three occasions early in the fourth quarter, but first-year Sofia Berisha (Old Tappan, N.J.) sandwiched a three-pointer and a layup around a hoop by sophomore Gianna Langone (Ellington, Conn.) to make it 72-46 with 4:25 left. Goode's layup with 1:02 remaining gave the Green and White its largest lead of the night at 80-50.

The Beavers, who shot better than 50 percent for the second time on the year, held a 36-25 edge on the glass and outscored Wellesley 28-22 in the paint. The Blue shot 40.4 percent for the game but committed 16 turnovers. 

Both teams return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. as Babson travels to Wheaton while Wellesley hosts Salve Regina. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are 55-15 all-time against Wellesley and have won 12 straight games between the programs. 
•    Mollica knocked down three three-pointers in the win and is now just one away from matching Babson's single-season record set 22 years ago.
•    The Beavers are now 8-1 when shooting better than 40 percent and 9-2 when outrebounding their opponents this winter. 
•    The Green and White also has won 14 consecutive games when scoring at least 65 points dating back to February of last season.