BABSON PARK, Mass. – Junior Nicki Wurdeman (Rowley, Mass.) led four Beavers in double figures as nationally-ranked Babson College defeated visiting Wheaton College, 74-43, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball contest at Staake Gymnasium on Wednesday night. With their 36th straight league win, the Beavers, ranked fifth in the nation by D3hoops.com and USA Today/ESPN, improved to 17-0 overall and 11-0 in the NEWMAC. Meanwhile, the setback dropped the Lyons' record to 9-10 overall and 5-6 in conference play.
Wurdeman led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 9-for-14 from the field and 4-for-5 from the line. The All-American forward also added seven rebounds, a game-high four blocks, and three steals. Sophomore Sarah Collins (Weymouth, Mass.) shot 8-for-9 to finish with 16 points, nine boards, three blocks, and four steals, senior captain Becky Bowman (Melrose, Mass.) added 13 points, and junior Kathleen King (Framingham, Mass.) tossed in 10 points to go with four boards. Boasting the nation's second-best scoring defense, the Beavers were outrebounded by a 37-33 margin in the contest but made up for it by forcing 32 turnovers that led to 34 points.
Wheaton was led by sophomore guard Jeana Trimboli (Norwalk, Conn.), who scored a team-high 13 points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field, including a 2-for-4 mark from long range, and a perfect 5-for-5 clip from the line. First-year Melissa McLaughlin (Spindale, N.C.) added eight points and a team-leading five rebounds, while sophomore Gabby Barbera (Ridgewood, N.J.) and first-year Sarah Fitzgerald (Bath, Maine) each chipped in with seven points. The Lyons shot just 28.8 percent from the field (15-52) against the Beavers, who came into the game ranked first in the country in field goal percentage allowed.
Babson's first eight baskets of the game came on fastbreak lay-ups, including five straight to start the contest as the hosts ran out to a quick 10-0 lead. The Beavers eventually pushed their advantage to 16-3 with 14:25 left in the first half, with Bowman (8) and Wurdeman (6) combining for 14 of their team's first 16 points.
Wheaton would chip away at the deficit, getting back to within eight after a three-pointer by Trimboli made it 25-17 with 5:37 to go and then within seven after a lay-up by Barbera made it 29-22 with 1:15 remaining. However, Collins and senior Damisi Adewumi (Bronx, N.Y.) both converted fastbreak lay-ups off their own steals to give Babson a 35-22 advantage heading into the break.
Wheaton twice pulled to within 12 in the first five minutes of the second half – first at 37-25 following a conventional three-point play by Trimboli at 17:43 and then again at 41-29 on a Barbera jumper at 15:31. However, Babson would pull away for good thanks to a 17-2 run over the next six and a half minutes, as the lead ballooned to 58-31 with nine minutes left to play. Collins scored eight of her 16 points during that stretch, while Wurdeman tossed in five. The visitors would not threaten the rest of the way as the Beavers coasted to the 74-43 victory.