Worcester, Mass. – February 14, 2009 – Despite a game-high 15 points from sophomore Rachelle Walker, the Springfield College women’s basketball team dropped a 64-54 decision at Clark’s Kneller Athletic Center in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon.
For Clark, freshman Kate Minister (Manchester, England) had 13 points, including four three-pointers (all in the first half), and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars.
Clark, which lost to Springfield (57-51) earlier this season, captured its fifth straight conference win to improve to 12-11 overall and 8-3 in the NEWMAC. Springfield dropped to 13-10 overall (8-3 NEWMAC).
Minister claimed her second double-double of the year on the way to the victory, while junior Jillian Camilleri (Lancaster, Mass.) and senior Sarah Roderigue (Oakland, Me.) hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds apiece. Clark out-rebounded the Pride, 52-34, for the game.
Walker, a guard from Lee, Mass. led Springfield in scoring with 15 points. Senior forward Corey Finch (Hanover, Pa.) was the teamÂ's top rebounder with nine boards.
Clark snapped an 18-18 tie with a 13-4 run over a 5:17 span to take a nine point lead (21-12) with 8:43 remaining in the first half. The Pride responded on back-to-back threeÂ's by Walker and a bucket by sophomore guard Abby Connors (Douglas, Mass.) to pull within, 21-20. But another 9-7 burst from the Cougars capped by MinisterÂ's fourth trifecta of the half gave the hosts a slim 30-27 halftime edge. Minister finished the half with 12 points.
WalkerÂ's three-pointer at the 17:28 mark of the second half gave Springfield its first advantage (34-32) since the opening minutes of the game, but it would be the visitorÂ's last lead. ClarkÂ's next three baskets were three-pointers off the hands of Roderigue, Nicole LeVecque (Billerica, Mass.) and Katie McCloskey (Wilbraham, Mass.) to regain a 41-36 edge with 14:29 left to play. The Cougars then went up by as many as 10 points on three separate occasions with the last (54-44) on Sara HagstromÂ's (Yarmouth, Me.) lay-up with 5:17 left.
Springfield attempted to close the gap in the final minutes by hitting several shots inside, but Clark hit 6-of-10 free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
Clark connected on 15-of-25 (60%) from the free throw line and hit 20-of-51 shots for a 39.2 percent clip from the field. Springfield shot 31.3 percent (21-of-67) from the floor and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the stripe.
Clark participated in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) Pink Zone for today’s game. All proceeds will be donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Both teams will be back in action on Wednesday. Clark will play at Wellesley College at 7 pm, while Springfield will travel to Smith College for a 7 pm tilt.
