WATERVILLE, Maine -- Sophomore Elsa Daulerio scored a career-high 20 points and tallied the eventual game-winning bucket in a 55-54 victory for the Bates women's basketball team Wednesday night over Colby College.

With the Bobcats trailing 54-53, Daulerio (Harpswell, Maine) received the ball at the left elbow. She made one move to her left before cutting back to her right into the paint. Daulerio's baby hook shot fell with 1:04 on the clock, giving Bates the lead. 

Neither team scored on their next possession, and Colby got the ball back with six seconds left. Out of a timeout, Kate Olenik drove to the hoop. Her layup attempt found every part of the rim before bouncing into the hands of junior Alexandra Long (Newtown, Pa.), securing the win for Bates. 

The non-conference victory marks the fifth straight win for the Bobcats (7-1) over the Mules (6-3). 

Daulerio shot 9-15 from the floor to lead all scorers. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and blocked four shots.

The game featured five ties and five lead changes. Bates led by as many as 13 points in the second half, going up 47-34 on a pair of free throws from sophomore Ava James (Bethesda, Md.) with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

But layups from Lydia Modarski and Olenik trimmed the Bates lead to nine by the end of the third.

A Daulerio layup with 5:29 left in regulation put the Bobcats ahead by a count of 53-45. Then Colby went on a 9-0 run, taking a 54-53 lead on a Chelsea Ibenegbu layup with 1:26 left. Daulerio had the answer though, and the Bobcats survived for a key road victory. 

Daulerio was the only Bates player in double figures scoring, but sophomore Sophie Spolter (Blacklick, Ohio) had a strong game as well, scoring nine points on 3-6 shooting, grabbing four rebounds, and dishing out four assists. First-year Sarah Hughes (Rumson, N.J.) added five points, five rebounds, and a game-high five assists. Senior captain Davina Kabantu (Portland, Maine) grabbed seven rebounds and notched a team-high two steals.

Olenik paced the Mules with 18 points on 7-14 shooting and Adaobi Nebuwa added 14 points on 7-14 shooting. 

The Bobcats tallied 12 second chance points to Colby's seven. 

Bates is back in action Saturday when they welcome the University of New England to town for a 1pm tip at Alumni Gym.