Springfield, Mass. - January 12, 2016 - Senior forward Emily Gins (Fort Myers, Fla.) tied her career-high with 18 points, as the Springfield College women's basketball program picked up a 55-46 win over Babson College in a rematch of last season's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Semifinal on Tuesday night in Blake Arena.

With the win, Springfield improves to 9-4 on the season, holding a 4-1 mark in conference play, while the Beavers fall to 8-5 overall, with a 4-1 record in the NEWMAC. The Pride were able to overcome a four-point deficit in the first half, and outscore Babson 19-7 in the third quarter, securing the nine-point victory for Springfield. From the floor, the Pride were 22-of-60 (36.7%) on the evening, but shot 42.9% in the second half, while Babson was 20-of-62 (32.3%) from the field in the loss. Springfield held a big advantage on the glass, recording 47 rebounds to Babson's 36.

Along with her 18 points, Gins grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, while junior guard Lexi Windwer (Milton, Mass) recorded 11 points, including three three-pointers, while also collecting five boards. Additionally, junior center Ava Adamopoulos (Ludlow, Mass.) notched 13 points and seven rebounds, four of which were offensive, in 25 minutes of play.

For Babson, junior guard Taylor Russell (Braintree, Mass.) led with nine points, while senior forward Linnett Graber (Roseland, N.J.) recorded a team-best six rebounds. Junior Giovanna Pickering (Hull, Mass.) put forth an eight-point, five-rebound effort in the loss.

Babson opened up play with a 7-0 run, before Windwer answered with a lay-up in transition, followed by a basket from Adamopolous to cut the Pride's deficit to three, 5:32 into the contest. The Beavers would score six unanswered points, capped off by a layup from Pickering, before Adamopolous and Gins combined for seven points to make it 15-9, Babson, with 1:14 left in the first quarter. Freshman Chelsea McAllister (Springfield, Vt.) would hit a three as time expired to bring the Pride to within three at the end of one.   

A three pointer from Windwer opened up the second quarter to even the score at 15 apiece, before senior guard Marissa Cicchetti (Mansfield, Mass.) converted a three-point play which extended Babson's lead to six with 4:33 left to go in the half. The Beaver's would take a 26-19 lead with 2:15 left in the second stanza, before the Pride rattled off six-straight points, capped by a jumper from Heather Lewis (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) to make it 29-25, Babson, heading into the break. 

Springfield came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, as a lay-up from Gins quickly evened the score at 29 apiece, before the senior hit two from the free-throw line to give the Pride its first lead of the game, 33-29, with 6:08 on the clock. Following a jumper from Russell, the Pride would open a 40-31 lead over Babson following a basket from Adamopoulos, and would end the period with another basket from Gins to take a 44-36 advantage into the final frame.

A three-pointer from Julianna Rosenberg (Verona, N.J.) cut the Beavers' deficit to seven just 1:29 into the last quarter, but the Pride would hold on to its lead with strong play from Gins and Adamopoulos, who converted back-to-back chances to give Springfield a 52-43 lead with 2:35 to go.Gins would capitalize on her free-throws down the stretch to seal the 55-46 win for the Pride.

Up next, Springfield will play its second game in five days when it will travel to Coast Guard for a NEWMAC contest. The tip is set for 7 p.m.