Springfield, Mass. – November 26, 2013 - The Springfield College women’s basketball team snapped its three-game losing skid with a 47-42 win over Babson in a back-and-forth conference clash in Blake Arena on Tuesday.

Springfield improves to 2-3 (1-2 NEWMAC) while Babson falls to 1-4 (1-2 NEWMAC) with the loss. The last time the Pride beat Babson was a 58-55 victory on January 14, 2006. Babson has won the last five NEWMAC championships.

Babson jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, before Jaimie Bickelhaupt (Brookfield, Conn.) got Springfield on the board 2:29 in to make it a 5-2 Beaver lead. The Pride took a 6-5 lead, its first of the game, just two minutes later on a layup by freshman Lexi Windwer (Milton, Mass.). The first half saw four lead changes and ended with a narrow 22-21 Babson advantage.

Springfield took a 27-26 lead 3:40 into the second half on a basket by Heather Lewis (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and never trailed from that point. Lewis gave Springfield a 35-28 advantage with 13:39 left on the clock, draining a jumper then hitting two free throws on the next possession. The sophomore finished the day with a team-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. She also dished out four assists and added three steals and three blocks.

The Pride went on a 6-0 run midway through the second half to earn a 35-28 lead, holding Babson scoreless for nearly five minutes. Kristen Ferola (Amherst, Mass.) knocked down a three-pointer with 9:45 left in the game to end the Beavers’ drought and come within four points.

The Beavers made it interesting down the stretch as Linnett Graber (Roseland, N.J.) brought them within three, knocking down a jumper for a 40-37 game. Springfield answered back though, as Lewis found Bickelhaupt in the paint for an easy layup and a 42-37 lead with 3:24 left in the game.

Windwer gave Springfield a 44-39 advantage with 1:51 left, driving to the basket through two defenders for a layup. Ava Adamopoulos (Ludlow, Mass.) grabbed a critical defensive rebound on Babson’s ensuing possession with 1:32 left on the clock to give Springfield the ball. Windwer drew a foul on the other end of the court, sinking one of her free throws to give the Pride a 45-39 lead with just 47 seconds left in the game.

With just 16 ticks on the clock, Bickelhaupt made a free throw for a 46-39 lead and Tamara Tribble (White Plains, N.Y.) iced it with a foul shot of her own with seven seconds left to take a five point lead.

Bickelhaupt finished the day with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Adamopoulos matched her with 10 rebounds of her own and tallied four points. Windwer added nine points, four boards and two assists. Tribble went 3-for-4 from the foul line and brought down six rebounds for the Pride.

Babson was led by Graber with 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting and four rebounds. Megan Otto (Scituate, Mass.) had a team-best seven boards while Giovanna Pickering (Hull, Mass.) and Lindsey Roche (Arlington, Mass.) each three steals apiece.

Springfield shot 17-of-42 (40.5%) on the game while Babson was 15-of-54 (27.8%).

The Pride will be back in action Wednesday, Dec. 4, traveling to WPI for a conference clash beginning at 7:00 p.m. Babson will also play on Wednesday, hosting Wellesley at 7:00.