LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates women's basketball junior Ava James tallied a career-high 15 points and classmate Elsa Daulerio notched a double-double as the Bobcats defeated Babson 70-65 Tuesday evening at Alumni Gym.

The Beavers (7-6) hung with the Bobcats (9-3) throughout the contest, cutting the Bates lead to one on an old-fashioned three-point play from Samantha Reale with 2:13 remaining in regulation. But the Bobcats had the answer as Daulerio (Harpswell, Maine) found first-year Lily Lambo (Watertown, Mass.) on a perfect cut to the hoop, putting the hosts up 64-61 with 1:59 left.

Then it was closing time, and sophomore Sarah Hughes (Rumson, N.J.) was lights out from the line, making all six of her free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

James (Bethesda, Md.) made 5-8 from three-point range and Daulerio led all players with 18 points on 8-18 shooting, a game-high 15 rebounds, and three blocked shots. Hughes (17 points) and Lambo (career-high 10 points on 4-8 shooting) joined them in double figures in the scoring column. 

Meanwhile, senior captain Alexandra Long (Newtown, Pa.) was her usual steady self, tallying eight points on 3-4 shooting, five rebounds, a team-high four assists, three blocked shots, and one steal. 

Bates started the game on a roll, taking a 16-5 lead on a Long three-point play with 3:31 left in the first quarter. Babson was able to trim the Bobcat lead to 19-11 by the end of the opening 10 minutes of action. James opened the second quarter with a three-pointer to put the Bobcats back up by 11, but the Beavers went on a 10-0 run, cutting the Bates advantage to 22-21 on a three-point play from Julia St. Laurent with 6:46 left until halftime.

Long answered with a three-pointer and Daulerio added a pair of free throws to put the Bobcats up by six. 

An 8-0 Babson run culminating with a Madison Hart layup gave the Beavers their first lead since early in the first quarter. Hughes was able to make a layup with 26 seconds left until the intermission, tying the game at 29.

Hughes and Daulerio teamed up to give Bates a 34-29 lead, as Hughes nailed a three and Daulerio converted a layup to open the second half. 

However, Babson would not go away, and the visitors took another lead at 48-47 on a Hart layup with 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Fortunately for the Bobcats, Hughes had the answer. She followed her miss on the baseline with a buzzer-beating shot to give Bates a 49-48 edge entering the final quarter of action.

Babson did not lead again, as Bates outscored the Beavers 21-17 over the final 10 minutes.

Emily Flynn paced the Beavers with 11 points on 4-9 shooting. Three different Beavers scored 10 points apiece. The Bobcats held Katelyn Mollica, Babson's leading scorer on the season, to just six points on 2-10 shooting. Bates blocked nine shots as a team and recorded five steals.

Bates opens NESCAC play Friday night when the Bobcats visit Amherst for a 7 p.m. tip.