Shoemaker posts fifth-straight double-double in loss

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Wheaton College women's basketball team had its five game winning-streak snapped by Babson College on Saturday afternoon at Staake Gymnasium as the Beavers came away with a 68-63 victory over the Lyons in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) contest.

Wheaton sophomore forward Kiley Shoemaker (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) posted her fifth-straight double-double with a game-high 22 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks. Junior forward Abbie Brickley (Sandy, Utah/Skyline) registered double-figures for the 22nd time this season scoring 14 points alongside six rebounds, one assist and a steal. Sophomore guard Rebecca Arnone (Litchfield, N.H./Campbell) tallied 11 points, dished out a game-high seven assists and hauled in two rebounds, while junior guard Kirsten Ferrari (Lynn, Mass./Saint Mary's) added eight points and four assists.

Babson sophomore forward Linnett Graber (Roseland, N.J./Gill St. Bernard's) poured in 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field including a 6-for-6 performance at the free throw line to pace the Beavers offensively. Classmate Briana Hunt (Newton, Mass./Newton North) notched 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Freshman forward Jennifer Narlee (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) had nine points, ten rebounds and one assist. Sophomore guard Kristen Ferola (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) and freshman guard Giovanna Pickering (Hull, Mass./Phillips Andover) both chipped in with seven points apiece. Pickering also added four steals, four assists and three rebounds.

Down by four points with 11:12 remaining in the game, Wheaton produced a 12-7 run to claim a 57-56 advantage with 4:33 left to play. Brickley swished a pair of free throws at 10:38, senior forward Sarah Fitzgerald (Bath, Maine/Morse) knocked down a triple (8:56) and Shoemaker converted a layup at 7:01 to bring the game within one point for the second time during the spurt. Ferrari followed with a long distance shot of her own (5:36) and Shoemaker finished the run with a jumper.

Graber responded with two free throws on Babson's next possession after Wheaton committed back-to-back fouls and the Beavers held off the Lyons just enough to push their winning streak to five-straight games. The hosts went 9-for-10 at the free throw line down the stretch and Graber canned a trey with 41-seconds remaining to give Babson a two-possession cushion helping seal the eventual victory.

Wheaton held the lead for nearly an entire half (18:55) as the Lyons took a 34-32 advantage into the break. Babson finally evened the score at 43-43 at 13:49 mark using an 11-9 run to open up the second stanza. Wheaton led by as many as 13 points (28-15) with 6:09 left on the scoreboard in the first half after junior guard Kenzie Kuhn (Glenwood Springs, Colo./Glenwood Springs) put home a three-pointer on a feed by classmate Laura Pierce (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy).

Both teams tied on the glass at 37-37, while Wheaton shot 39.7-percent (23-for-58) from the floor and Babson went 41.4-percent (24-for-58) from the field. The Lyons compiled a 17-15 margin in points off turnovers, but Babson countered with a 28-22 differential in the paint.

Wheaton (19-5, 14-5 NEWMAC) hosts Wellesley next Wednesday inside Emerson Gymnasium on "Senior Night" at 7 p.m. Babson (13-10, 12-6 NEWMAC) hosts MIT on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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