LEWISTON, Maine -- The No. 24 nationally ranked Bates women's basketball team continued their remarkable season with a 72-57 win over No. 10 Bowdoin Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium. 

With the victory, the Bobcats (19-2, 7-0 NESCAC) take over first place by themselves in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, with three games remaining until the conference tournament. Bowdoin (19-2, 6-1 NESCAC) loses for just the second time this season, snapping a 16-game winning streak for the visitors. Bates has now won 10 in a row.

The Bobcats held Bowdoin to 28.8 percent shooting from the floor, their worst field goal percentage of the season. Meanwhile, Bates shot 49.1% from the field. 

Senior captain Morgan Kennedy (Oklahoma City, Okla.) led all scorers with 19 points on 7-12 shooting, while sophomore Elsa Daulerio (Harpswell, Maine) put up a stat line Bates fans have come to expect, ending her night with 14 points, six rebounds, and a block. First-year Sarah Hughes (Rumson, N.J.) matched Daulerio's output with 14 points on 5-8 shooting and six rebounds. Hughes scored 11 of her 14 points in an electric second half, propelling the Bobcats to victory.

Sophomore Sophie Spolter (Blacklick, Ohio) and junior Alexandra Long (Newtown, Pa.) turned in clutch performances as well, with Spolter tallying 10 points on 3-6 shooting and Long recorded nine points on 4-8 shooting, a game-high eight rebounds, three assists, and a game-high four blocked shots.

With Alumni Gym as raucous and electric as it has ever been, it was Daulerio who got the scoring started for the Bobcats, ripping the ball from Bowdoin on a rebound and getting the first points on the board with 7:15 left in the first quarter with a pair of free throws.

Bates fell behind 7-2 but that was as far ahead as Bowdoin got, with the Bobcats quickly rallying. Daulerio controlled the first five minutes of the game, following up her first points with a block and two more points on the other side. 

Bates stuck to their team identity, as a strong defensive team that works well on all three levels of scoring. The 'Cats had four blocks in the first quarter alone, and their rebounding allowed them four key second-chance points that gave Bates a 19-6 lead through one.

The second quarter was a gritty and defensive affair, but not one without excitement. Long almost blew the roof off Alumni Gym with a physical "and-one" layup with 4:43 left on the clock to keep Bates in the lead. 

The fans in Alumni Gym felt like a true sixth player on the court for the Bobcats, with a packed house causing fans to be turned away at the door. 

Kennedy shined throughout, and her nine points in the first half helped give Bates a slim 31-29 lead at the intermission.

The Bobcats started slowly in the second half, falling behind twice, but Hughes turned it on with a huge three-pointer with 6:33 left in the quarter, getting Bates rolling again and putting them up 40-35. 

Bates was able to keep their lead secure, mainly through stellar defensive play. The Bobcats ended the third quarter with a 50-43 lead, their largest since 9:03 left in the second. 

Bowdoin hung around in the fourth quarter, but the Bobcats finished the game on a 10-0 run, with Daulerio, Spolter, and Hughes combining for all 10 points to seal the win for the first-place and undefeated-in-NESCAC-play Bobcats.

Megan Tan paced the visitors with 18 points on 7-18 shooting. Carly Davey added 14 points on 2-9 shooting, making 8-10 from the free throw line. Jess Giorgio tallied 11 points on 4-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.

Bates returns to action Saturday for Senior Day against rival Colby, with tip set for 3pm at Alumni Gym.