| Kitrick Bell rang up a
double-double in the Crusaders' dominating win. d3photography.com file photo by Andrew Zavonia |
Mary Hardin-Baylor controlled its showdown with Concordia (Texas) as the Crusaders cruised past the Tornadoes 94-81.
Kitrick Bell paced Mary Hardin-Baylor with 24 points and 23 rebounds. The Crusaders have a three-game lead in the ASC West over Concordia and Hardin-Simmons.
Elsewhere No. 10 Amherst picked up a win at No. 18 Rhode Island College, 74-65. Aaron Toomey errupted for 34 points, including 11-for-12 shooting from the free throw line, to help the Lord Jeffs improve to 18-2. Toomey scored Amherst's first eight points and four of the last six. Box score
Tuesday was a good one overall for the NESCAC. In addition to Amherst's win, No. 6 Middlebury rolled past Keene State 81-53 and No. 9 Williams walloped Southern Vermont 93-45. NESCAC teams went 8-1 with the lone loss coming from Colby at Southern Maine, 70-50.
SUNY-Old Westbury survived a scare from visiting Mount St. Vincent, 72-71. James Zuccaro hit a three-pointer with 55 seconds left to pull the Dolphins within one. After the Panthers missed two shots to expand their lead, Zuccaro missed a three-pointer with a second left to win the game. SUNY-Old Westbury remains unbeaten in the Skyline Conference (17-3, 12-0).
Massachussets College continued its surprising run in the MASCAC. The Trailblazers topped Salem State 91-82 to keep a game ahead of Westfield State. Massachussets College is 6-1 in conference after going 4-9 outside of it.
Women's action
No. 1 DePauw hasn't officially clinched the NCAC title yet, but the undefeated Tigers took another step toward that goal on Tuesday night. They defeated second-place Kenyon 77-57 and swept the regular season series. DePauw scored the first eight points of the second half to build a double-digit lead and never looked back.
Amherst and Tufts tuned up for their Saturday showdown with non-conference wins. The fourth-ranked Lord Jeffs held off Wesleyan 46-30 and No. 5 Tufts dumped Rhode Island College 52-35. Amherst hosts the Jumbos on Saturday after Bates visits LeFrak Gymnasium on Friday night.
Western Connecticut State knocked off New Paltz State 49-44 for the Colonials' eighth straight victory. Covenant surprised GSAC leader Salem 71-70 in overtime.