BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior Kelly Walsh (Goffstown, N.H.) scored 13 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to help No. 10 WBCA/No. 13 D3hoops.com Babson College defeat SUNY New Paltz, 76-66, in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday night inside Staake Gymnasium.

With the win, Babson improves to 25-5 on the year and punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 and the fourth time in program history. New Paltz sees its season come to a close at 24-5.

Walsh finished 15-of-15 at the free throw line to go along with five boards and three assists, while senior Samantha Smith (Greenfield, Mass.) posted her eighth double-double with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Beavers. Classmate Megan Bauman (East Lyme, Conn.) chipped in with 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists and sophomore Katelyn Mollica (Foxborough, Mass.) also had 10 points in the win.

Senior Lexi Van Vorst (East Greenbush, N.Y.) scored 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting and junior Brianna Fitzgerald (Dix Hills, N.Y.), despite being saddled with three first-half fouls, added 17 points and five rebounds to lead the Hawks. Senior Graci Serravillo (Altamont, N.Y.) also had 12 points and five boards in the loss.

Both teams led by as many as five in the opening quarter and the Green and White used a 7-0 spurt that included a baseline jumper by Mollica, a three-pointer by Odam and two free throws by Walsh to build a 28-21 advantage with 7:31 to go in the second. Back-to-back hoops by Smith pushed the margin to 32-24 less than a minute later and despite going scoreless following Mollica's jumper at the 4:26 mark, the Beavers stopped New Paltz on each of its final six possessions to carry a 34-29 lead into the break.

Babson was up as many as seven early in the third but Fitzgerald and Van Vorst combined for all the scoring during an 11-3 run that gave the Hawks a 44-43 advantage with 1:56 to go in the period. Walsh canned two free throws less than a minute later to spark an 12-0 run that put the Beavers in front to stay. Sophomore Camilla Silk (Medfield, Mass.) finished off a layup to make it 47-44 late in the third and Walsh and Bauman scored the next eight points as the hosts pushed the margin to 55-44 with 7:24 to play.

New Paltz pulled with 58-51 on a pair of free throws by Fitzgerald with 5:05 left but Walsh fed junior Rachel McMenemey (Northborough, Mass.) for a layup and then converted a three-point play to help the Green and White regain a 63-53 lead with 3:47 left. Bauman knocked down two free throws 65 seconds later and Smith finished off a pass from Walsh to give Babson its largest lead of the game at 68-55 with 58 seconds to go.

The Beavers shot 42.9 percent from the floor and finished 24-of-31 at the free throw line in the win. They also finished with a 49-40 edge on the glass. New Paltz shot just 31.9 percent from the floor in the loss.

Babson will now face Marietta in a sectional semifinal contest next Friday. The sectional hosts will be announced on Sunday.

GAME NOTES
• The Beavers are now 3-0 all-time against New Paltz with all three victories coming in the NCAA Tournament.
• Babson is 21-1 this season when it carries a lead into the fourth quarter.
• The Beavers are 18-1 this winter when outrebounding their opponents.
• The Green and White is 15-1 at home this season with 11 wins by at least 10 points.
• Babson is now 22-0 on the year when holding its foes below 40 percent shooting.