WAYNE, N.J. --- The Colby College women's basketball team is moving on in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Colby used two huge scoring runs --- one in the first half and the other to end the first and start the second half --- as the Mules opened up a 29-18 halftime lead on the way to a 58-48 victory over Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday night in the opening round of the NCAA tourney at William Paterson University.
The Mules move to 22-5 overall and will play the winner of Friday's second game between William Paterson and Keuka College in a second round game Saturday at 6 p.m. Colby advanced past the first round for the second straight year.
In a turnover-filled first half, the Mules' two scoring runs proved to be the difference. Stevens (21-7) led 15-9 only to see Colby go on a 12-0 run to take a 21-15 margin after a pair of free throws by Aarika Ritchie. The Ducks cut the lead to 21-18, but the Mules went on an 8-0 run to end the half and then scored the first eight points of the second half for a 16-0 run and a 37-18 margin.
Empire 8 conference champion Stevens did settle down and closed the gap to 47-38 with about four minutes to play, but could not cut the margin any further over the next few minutes.
In a battle of two of the top rebounding teams in the country, Colby was the winner. Stevens came into the game ranked third nationally in rebounding margin (12.9) and the Mules were 15th (9.7), but Colby had a 38-31 advantage in the game.
The Mules also did the job defensively, holding the Ducks to just 30 percent shooting in the game.
Diana Manduca finished with 13 points, four steals, and three assists to lead Colby. Ritchie had 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals as Colby's guards made big contributions. Rachael Mack nearly had a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds, while Jil Vaughan and Jacky McLaughlin both had six points.
The two teams combined for 30 turnovers (Stevens 16, Colby 14) in the opening half and the Ducks shot just 22 percent from the field.
Manduca hit a jumper to start the second half for a 31-18 lead and McLaughlin added a pair of free throws. McLaughlin followed with a jumper and Mack capped the 8-0 run to start the second half with a drive to the basket for a 37-18 margin.
COLBY 58, STEVENS 48
STEVENS (21-7)
Victoria Webber 3-11 10-12 16; Victoria O'Connor 2-3 4-5 8; Molly Spadaro
2-4 1-2 6; Jillian Barrett 2-5 0-0 5; Lisa Tessitore 2-4 0-1 4; Dawn Garcia
1-10 1-2 4; Brianne Lavin 1-3 0-0 3; Paige Armstrong 0-0 2-4 2; Avis
Benjamin 0-3 0-0 0; Jen Thompson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-43 18-26 48.
COLBY (22-5)
Diana Manduca 5-13 1-2 13; Aarika Ritchie 3-7 6-7 12; Rachael Mack 4-7 1-3
9; Jil Vaughan 2-4 2-2 6; Jacky McLaughlin 2-7 2-3 6; Julianne Kowalski 0-3
4-4 4; Karlyn Adler 1-2 0-0 3; Jayde Bennett 1-3 1-4 3; Kelly Potvin 1-2 0-0
2. Totals 19-48 17-25 58.
Stevens....................... 18 30 - 48
Colby......................... 29 29 - 58
3-point goals--Stevens 4-15 (Dawn Garcia 1-4; Molly Spadaro 1-2; Jillian
Barrett 1-4; Brianne Lavin 1-1; Victoria Webber 0-4), Colby 3-12 (Diana
Manduca 2-6; Karlyn Adler 1-2; Jacky McLaughlin 0-3; Aarika Ritchie 0-1).
Fouled out--Stevens-Molly Spadaro, Colby-None. Rebounds--Stevens 31 (Paige
Armstrong 5; Dawn Garcia 5; Jillian Barrett 5), Colby 38 (Rachael Mack 12).
Assists--Stevens 6 (Dawn Garcia 4), Colby 9 (Diana Manduca 3). Total
fouls--Stevens 18, Colby 20. Technical fouls--Stevens-None, Colby-None.
A-375