SAINTS STUMBLE IN 1ST ROUND OF NCAA REGIONAL
March 5, 2010
WATERVILLE, Maine - Sophomore Nicole Wurdeman (Rowley, Mass.) had a game-high 29 points, including a 13-for-14 effort from the field, as Babson College opened the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 76-56 win over Emmanuel College. The North East Regional 1st round game was played on Friday night at Colby College's Wadsworth Gymnasium. Babson improved to 26-3 overall and will meet the winner of Friday's other 1st round game between Colby College and Husson College on Saturday at 7 p.m. Emmanuel ends the season at 22-6, after making the program's 15th NCAA Tournament appearance and posting the Saints' 10th-straight 20-win season.
Wurdeman had 17 points at halftime as the Beavers opened up a 52-23 lead at the break. Babson shot 61.5 percent from the field, including a 67.6 percent total in the first half. The Beavers had 27 assists on 32 field goals in the contest.
The Beavers opened the contest with a quick lay-up and a three-pointer on their next possession to go up 5-0 in the first minute of play. Babson would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the night, as the Beavers stretched their lead to as many as 31 points mid-way through the second half.
Despite, outrebounding Babson, 40-37, forcing 28 Babson turnovers, and shooting 84.2% from the free throw line, the Saints trailed in the game throughout the night. Emmanuel shot a dismal 27% from the floor, hitting just 20 of their 74 attempts from the field, while Babson caught fire early and dropped 32 of their 52 tries.
Emmanuel lost leading scorer and 1st Team All-GNAC selection Iman Davis (Toms River, N.J.) to ankle injury just three minutes into the game. Davis would not return to action and finished her career with the Saints as the program's all-time leading scorer.
Junior guard Kristin LeBel (Tolland, Conn.) led the Saints with 14 points, including scoring the 1,000th of her collegiate career. She entered the contest just 12 points shy of 1,000 and is now the twentieth Emmanuel player to reach the highly coveted milestone.
Junior point guard Casey Shevlin (Medford, N.Y.) added 13 points for the Saints. In the low post, freshman forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) had 7points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort, while senior center Abby Brenkach (Germantown, N.Y.) added 8 points and 5 boards.
Sarah Collins (Weymouth, Mass.) netted 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked four shots, and dished out three assists for Babson. The Beavers blocked nine shots in the game. Kathleen King (Framingham, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Babson had six players with three assists or more in the victory.