SAINTS COME FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT WESLEYAN IN FINAL MINUTE
Feb. 3, 2011
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Sophomore forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) hit a basket with :46.6 remaining to break a 68-68 tie and senior guard Kristin LeBel (Tolland, Conn.) sank a pair of critical free throws with :04.9 to go to help visiting Emmanuel defeat Wesleyan University, 72-69. The Saints now improve to 12-7 overall, while Weslyan falls to 6-13 on the season. Emmanuel now leads the overall series vs. Wesleyan, 6-3.
Wesleyan, which led 39-34 at halftime, trailed only briefly in the second period, recovering from a 52-48 deficit to secure the game's largest advantage at 63-54 behind a 15-2 run with 8:56 to play. Six players scored for the Cardinals during the run with sophomore Kendra Harris getting four of her 13 points at that time.
But the Saints patiently whittled the lead down over the next seven minutes, eventually tying the score for the 13th time in the contest, 68-68, with 1:51 to go on an O'Dwyer basket as she finished the game with 16 points, one of four Saints in double-figures. Wesleyan had two possessions, turning the ball over once and missing a three-pointer, sandwiching a Saint missed field goal, before O'Dwyer gave Emmanuel the lead for good.
Freshman Amber Wessells hit one of two free throws for the Cardinals with :42.3 left to make it 70-69. While the Saints turned the ball over on their next two possessions, the Cardinals failed to convert on a pair of shots during one possession and then committed a costly turnover with :05 to go. LeBel, who had 17 points, was fouled and made her freebies, going 8 for 8 from the line in the game. Wesleyan managed just a desperate 35-foot try at the end but the toss was swatted aside by the Emmanuel defense.
Leading Emmanuel in scoring on the night was junior Meghan Kirwan (Melrose, Mass.) with 18 points, while senior Casey Shevlin (Medford, N.Y.) added 10. Shevlin also had a game-high seven assists to go along with her 4 steals. For Wesleyan, junior Sam LaCroce posted a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Erin Gold added 11 for the home squad.
The first half featured a tight opening five minutes before a 7-0 Wesleyan run spotted the host a 20-13 edge. Emmanual came right back to tie the game at 24-24 with an 11-4 burst and held a 29-26 lead before the Cardinals ended the half on a 13-5 run for a five-point halftime lead.
Next up for the Saints is a home GNAC game Sat., Feb. 5 vs. Pine Manor as they attempt to stay perfect in conference play, currently 6-0. Wesleyan will be looking for its first conference win and a chance to break a 10-game losing streak when it travels to NESCAC rival Connecticut College Saturday. Wesleyan and Conn. College are both 0-6 in NESCAC play.
- Courtesy of Wesleyan University Sports Information