Top-Ranked Bowdoin Powers Past Amherst In Big Second Half

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BRUNSWICK, Maine – The top-ranked Bowdoin College women's basketball team outscored fourth-ranked Amherst 47-22 in the second half to rally for a dramatic 65-56 win on Saturday afternoon before a packed house at Morrell Gymnasium.

The Polar Bears improve to 19-0 (6-0 NESCAC) and claim sole possession of first place in the NESCAC standings. Amherst falls to 17-2 (4-1 NESCAC) with the setback and lose to Bowdoin for the first time since the 2015 NESCAC Tournament semifinals.

Game Highlights

  • The Mammoths were in complete command in the first half, holding an 11-8 edge after the first quarter but extending it quickly to double-digits in the second period.
  • Amherst opened the second quarter on a 9-3 surge and caught fire from the field, connecting on 9-12 in the stanza, including 4-5 from three-point range, to take a commanding 34-18 lead at halftime.
  • The tide turned quickly in the second half as Bowdoin burst out of the locker room on a 9-2 run, sparked by an Abby Kelly three-pointer.
  • Amherst pushed the lead back to 11 points following a running layin by Madeline Eck, 38-27.
  • Bowdoin answered with a 9-0 run, closing to within 38-36 following another Kelly jump shot at 4:11 of the third.
  • The Mammoths kept Bowdoin at bay until the final 90 seconds of the quarter. A Graham layup and Kelly three-pointer sparked a period-ending 7-2 run, giving the hosts a 46-44 edge heading to the final quarter.
  • The Polar Bears continued to roll in the fourth quarter, opening on a 6-1 run to open a seven-point lead, 52-45. Bowdoin led by as many as eight points down the stretch before Amherst began climbing back into the game at the free throw line.
  • The Mammoths scored seven straight points from the line to cut the Bowdoin lead to 57-54 with 2:30 remaining in regulation. Amherst closed to within three points on three occasions, including following a Courtney Resch layup with 2:02 on the clock.
  • Bowdoin delivered the dagger on their next possession, however, as Samantha Roy took a cross-court feed from Abby Kelly and buried a three-pointer from the wing with 1:31 to go, giving the Polar Bears a 62-56 edge. Amherst would not score again as the Polar Bears walked away with the win.

By The Numbers

  • After shooting just 20% from the field in the first twenty minutes, Bowdoin hit on 58% of their attempts in the second half, including 4-8 from three-point range.
  • After a red-hot first half (58%), the Mammoths went ice cold in the second (23%), including just 2-13 in the final quarter.
  • Abby Kelly scored 13 of her team-high 19 points in the second half, while also grabbing five rebounds.
  • Maddie Hasson went scoreless in the first half but had 14 points in the second half while adding seven rebounds.
  • Samantha Roy ended with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in the win for Bowdoin.
  • Amherst was paced by a game-high 21 points with five rebounds from Madeline Eck.
  • Hannah Fox added ten points and six rebounds, but went 0-8 from the field in the second half for the Mammoths.
  • Bowdoin held a key 15-4 edge in second-chance points in the victory.

Up Next

  • The Polar Bears will return to action at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday at home against New England College.
  • Amherst returns to action on Friday evening at Tufts at 7:00 p.m.