Geneseo, N.Y.- The Babson College Beavers (29-0) remained unbeaten on the season and advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball tournament with a 65-53 win over the SUNY Geneseo Blue Knights (26-4) in the Carl Schrader Gymnasium at SUNY Geneseo tonight.
Junior Nicki Wurdeman (Rowley, Mass.) scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half and posted her 11th double-double of the season with 12 rebounds and junior Kathleen King (Framingham, Mass.) posted her 13th double-double with 11 points and 12 boards to lead Babson. Senior Damisi Adewumi (Bronx, N.Y.) and senior Becky Bowman (Melrose, Mass.) added 10 points each.
"I was very pleased the way we played tonight," Babson head coach Judy Blinstrub said. "Geneseo showed us some very different looks defensively, but we made some key adjustments and our kids really showed good maturity and composure in an extremely tough environment."
In the opening half, Geneseo used a jumper by sophomore Melissa Graham (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and a three-pointer by senior Khadija Campbell (Middletown, N.Y.) to take a 14-9 lead with 13:29 remaining. A layup by Babson's Amanda Grammel (Leominster, Mass.) tied the game at 16 with 8:07 left. Geneseo used a 6-0 spurt on a pair of conventional three-point plays by senior Brittany Finkle (Windsor, N.Y.) and junior Katelyn Charbonneau (Baldwinsville, N.Y.).
The Beavers responded with an 11-2 run of their own fueled by a pair of long-range shots by first year Caitlin O'Connell (Framingham, Mass.) sandwiched around a three by sophomore Allanah Wynn (Quincy, Mass.). Babson controlled the glass in the first half, 25-17, and forced 10 Geneseo turnovers.
The closest Geneseo came in the second half was at 46-42 with 13:42 to play on a layup by Graham, but the Beavers continued to dominate the glass, finishing with a 45-32 edge, forced another 12 turnovers and slowly pulled away.
"Our forwards played well again and all of our guards came up with huge shots and defensive stops when we needed them," Blinstrub added.
Finkle led Geneseo with 14 points on 4-for-6 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line with seven rebounds, Graham totaled 13 points and Campbell made 5-9 from the floor on her way to 12 points with 11 caroms.
Babson will face Bowdoin, a winner over Mt. St. Mary's, in Friday's contest at a site to be determined.