Springfield, Mass. – December 6, 2008 – Senior forward Corey Finch (Hanover, Pa.) led four players in double figures with 19 points as Springfield College defeated Western New England College 76-55 in the final day of action at the seventh annual Pioneer Valley WomenÂ's Hoop Classic Saturday afternoon at WNEC’s Alumni Healthful Living Center.
Sophomore guard Rachelle Walker (Lee, Mass.) played a key role in the win by scoring 14 points in a reserve role.
Freshman forward Cherelle Allen (New Britain, Conn.) added a career-high 13 points (folowing her career-high 13-rebound performance last night), while freshman guard Kelly Murphy (Mechanicville, N.Y.) netted 10 points as the Pride evened their record at 4-4.
Western New England College (3-4) scored the first five points of the game before Springfield gradually pulled away to take a 42-27 advantage at halftime. Walker sparked the Pride with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 three-pointers. That included a banked-in three-pointer at the buzzer.
SC led by 21 at 49-28 before the Golden Bears began a gallant comeback, getting within eight at 57-49 after two free throws by sophomore forward Kelly McCormick (Manchester, Conn.) with 7:48 left in the game. She finished with 13 points and five rebounds coming off the bench.
Finch made two baskets and Walker drilled another three-pointer to give the visitors a 64-51 lead at the 4:43 mark.
A pair of free throws by sophomore guard Taryn Belowsky (New Haven, Conn.) (10 points) pulled WNEC within 66-55 with 3:32 remaining, before the Pride scored the final 10 points of the contest.
Springfield finished shooting 42.6% from the field and held a 43-31 margin off the boards as senior center Lauren OÂ'Connor (Valhalla, N.Y.) pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, while scoring eight points. Allen and Murphy each had seven rebounds.
Junior forward Caitlin Powers (Scotia, NY) and freshman guard Mikaela Berthiaume (St. Albans, VT) each netted eight points for the Golden Bears.
Finch was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Pride.
Up next, SC will travel to play at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. next Tuesday (Dec. 9) at 6:00 pm.
