LEWISTON, Maine—Sophomore Sarah Hughes (Rumson, N.J.) scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half and went 6-of-6 at the free throw line over the final 37 seconds to help No. 24 WBCA Bates College defeat visiting Babson College, 70-65, in non-conference women's basketball action on Tuesday evening inside Alumni Gym. 

Babson has dropped two of its last three games to slip to 7-6 on the year, while Bates improves to 9-3 with its second consecutive victory. 

Senior Emily Flynn (Hanover, Mass.) led four players in double figures with 11 points and six rebounds for the Beavers. Sophomore Samantha Reale (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished with 10 points, nine boards, five assists and three steals, junior Allessia Carlo (Carmel, N.Y.) contributed 10 points and three steals, and first-year Julia St. Laurent (Greenland, N.H.) came off the bench to score a season-high 10 points to go along with five rebounds in the loss. 

Junior Elsa Daulerio (Harpswell, Maine) led all players with 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, while classmate Ava James (Bethesda, Md.) hit five three-pointers on the way to score 15 points for the Bobcats. First-year Lily Lambo (Watertown, Mass.) added 10 points and senior Alexandra Long (Newtown, Pa.) chipped in with eight points, five boards, four assists and three blocks in the win.

Bates jumped out to a 16-5 lead less than seven minutes into the contest and was still up 11 a minute into the second quarter before the Green and White went on a 10-1 run to pull within 22-21 on a three-point play by St. Laurent with 6:46 left in the stanza. The Bobcats answered with five straight points to go back in front by six but junior Chloe Perreault (Danbury, Conn.) knocked down back-to-back jumpers, senior Camilla Silk (Medfield, Mass.) scored inside and first-year Madison Hart (Greenwich, Conn.) converted a driving layup to give the Beavers a 29-27 advantage just 47 seconds before halftime. 

Bates scored on six of its first seven possessions to begin the third quarter but was held to just one field goal over the next five-plus as Babson went back in front 46-45 on a pair of free throws by Reale with 1:07 to go in the period. The lead changed hands four times in the final 67 seconds of the frame and James and Lambo knocked down consecutive triples following a jumper by Daulerio to give the Bobcats a 57-51 lead with 7:33 to go in the fourth. 

James drilled her fifth three-pointer of the game to make it 62-54 with 5:54 remaining before the Green and White answered with a 7-0 spurt to pull within one on a three-point play by Reale with 2:13 to play. Lambo scored in the paint on the ensuing possession and the Beavers had a pair of empty trips before Hughes hit a pair of free throws to stretch the margin to 66-61 with 37 seconds to go. 

Carlo cut Babson's deficit twice in the final 13 seconds but Hughes responded by going 2-of-2 at the charity stripe each time to seal the win for the hosts. 

The Beavers shot 44.4 percent over the final three quarters and 39.3 percent for the game while outscoring Bates 32-28 in the paint. The Bobcats shot 40 percent from the floor and made a season-high nine three-pointers in addition to finishing with a 42-39 edge on the glass. 

Babson returns to action next Wednesday when it hosts Springfield at 7 p.m. Bates opens NESCAC play at Amherst on Friday at 7 p.m. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are 10-20 all-time against Bates and Tuesday's contest was just the third between the teams since 2006. 
•    Babson is now 2-2 on the year in games decided by five points or less. 
•    The Green and White was outrebounded for just the second time this season on Tuesday and first since a loss to Tufts back on November 22. 
•    Eight different players scored at least six points for the Beavers in the setback.