Fast Start Helps Beavers Post Fifth Straight Win

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Juniors Kristen Ferola (Amherst, Mass.) and Linnett Graber(Roseland, N.J.), and sophomore Giovanna Pickering (Hull, Mass.) each scored 15 points as Babson College defeated visiting Emerson College, 78-55, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action on Wednesday night at Staake Gymnasium.

With its fifth straight victory, Babson is now 11-5 overall and 7-1 in conference play, while Emerson drops to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in the NEWMAC.

Graber was 6-of-9 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds, Ferola went 5-of-8 from the floor and collected two steals, while Pickering chipped in with three boards and three assists for the Beavers. Sophomore Jennifer Narlee (Medfield, Mass.) recorded her first double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points, 11 boards and a career-high nine steals. Junior Marissa Cicchetti (Mansfield, Mass.) chipped in with nine points and a game-high four assists in the win.

Sophomore Elizabeth Horan (Ashland, Mass.) went 4-of-7 from three-point range and scored all 12 of her points in the first half to lead the Lions. First-year Sierra Ducey (Poway, Calif.) finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while senior Kristin Brice (Indiana, Pa.) contributed eight points, all in the second half.

The Green and White started fast, making eight of its first 13 shots and getting four points apiece from Graber and Cicchetti to build a 16-2 lead just 5:38 into the contest. Ducey stopped a 10-0 run with her first bucket of the game, but the Beavers got two hoops apiece from Ferola and Pickering as part of an 8-0 spurt to take their biggest lead of the opening stanza at 24-4 with 11:32 play.

Emerson rallied though, ripping off a 13-0 run that included a trio of three-pointers and six points from Horan to pull within 24-17 at the 7:30 mark. Babson responded with a 13-3 run of its own, getting six points from Ferola and five from Graber to push its lead back to 17 before the Lions closed the half with a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to 37-26 at the break.

After trading hoops over the first four minutes of the second half, the Green and White used a 11-2 run, including four points from first-year Brenna LeGacy (Attleboro, Mass.), to push its lead back to 53-34 with 11:20 left to go. Emerson countered with a 15-5 burst though,  getting three consecutive hoops from Brice and a pair of three-pointers from sophomore Emily Cameron (Culver City, Calif.) to within 58-49 with 6:41 remaining.

Following a timeout, Narlee scored six of the Beavers' next eight points to build their advantage back to 66-51. Cicchetti finished a driving layup two possessions later following a turnover by Cameron, and Ferola drilled a three-pointer from the left wing on Babson's next trip to make it 71-53 with 2:07 to go in the game.

The Green and White shot 42.9 percent (30-of-70) from the floor and held a 42-20 edge in point scoring. The Beavers, who held a 45-30 advantage on the glass, also scored 19 second-chance points and 25 points off 26 Emerson turnovers.

The Lions shot 36.8 percent (21-of-57) from the field and knocked down seven three-pointers on the night.

Both teams return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. as Babson travels to Mount Holyoke at 1 p.m., while Emerson visits Springfield.

GAME NOTES: Babson is now 3-0 all-time against Emerson…the Beavers are 7-1 at home this season and have won 10 of their last 11 conference games at Staake Gymnasium going back to last season…the Green and White is 10-1 when leading at halftime this winter…Babson is now 9-2 on the year when shooting 40 percent or better from the field…the Beavers have forced at least 18 turnovers in nine of their 11 victories on the year…Babson has won 44 consecutive games when scoring 75 points or more going back to 2008…six of the Beavers' seven NEWMAC victories have come by 13 points or more.