Springfield, Mass. - January 28, 2023 - The Springfield College women's basketball team put together an impressive all-around performance as it knocked off nationally-ranked Babson, 71-61, on Saturday afternoon in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action.
Springfield lifted its record to 13-6, 3-1 in conference play as it defeated a nationally-ranked opponent for the second-straight season. Babson, who was ranked ninth in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, is now 16-3, 3-1.
Rachel Vinton (Rutland, Mass.) was sensational on the afternoon as she produced a team-best 18 points to go along with six assists and five boards, while Angela Czeremcha (West Springfield, Mass.) turned in 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sam Hourihan (Bridgewater, Mass.) added 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Jaélen Daubon (Hyde Park, N.Y.) contributed 11 points. Springfield committed just six turnovers on the day.
Megan Bauman netted a game-high 25 points for the Beavers and Samantha Smith contributed 12 points and 11 boards.
Babson jumped out to a 7-2 lead after Smith knocked down a jumper at 6:49, only to have Springfield respond with a 7-2 push that allowed them to take a 10-9 edge at 3:16 following a triple from Vinton. The Beavers would answer back and own a 16-14 cushion after 10 minutes of play as they shot 7-of-17 from the field in the opening quarter.
The Pride used a 9-4 spurt to start the second quarter as Amanda Leary (Westbury, N.Y. ) cashed in on a trifecta from the left wing at the 5:48 mark to put the hosts in front by a 23-20 margin. A floater in the lane by Daubon lifted Springfield to its largest lead of the early going at 30-24 and Springfield would own a 32-26 advantage at the half after it held the visitors to just 10 points in the second.
Vinton beat her defender baseline for a crafty finish as Springfield opened up a 39-30 lead midway through the third quarter, but Babson would respond with a 8-3 burst to make it a one-score game at 41-38 following Bauman's two free throws at the 2:20 mark. The hosts would answer with the next six points, including a pair of key jumpers from Lindsey Laughlan (Ellington, Conn.), to regain a nine-point edge.
Springfield would extend its lead to double digits on a Hourihan jumper inside the opening minute of the fourth to make it 52-40. The visitors would get no closer than seven points as Springfield made 11-of-16 free throws in the final 10 minutes of play to hold for the important conference win.
Up next for the Pride will be a contest at Clark on Wednesday.
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