Norton, Mass. - January 14, 2023 - The Springfield College women's basketball team began New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play with a 69-62 victory at Wheaton Collge on Saturday. 

Springfield, which had played nationally-ranked opponents in four of its last five outings, improved to 11-5 on the season as it snapped its three-game losing streak.  The loss dropped Wheaton to 10-6.  

Sam Hourihan (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored a game-high 21 points for the Pride, while Jaélen Daubon (Hyde Park, N.Y.) netted 16 points off the bench as she connected on 5-of-6 from the field, including all three of her bids from downtown.  Rachel Vinton (Rutland, Mass.) totaled 10 points and four assists and Lindsey Laughlan (Ellington, Conn.) produced eight points and five boards.  Springfield held a 35-27 edge on the boards and knocked down 7-of-12 from downtown in the opening 20 minutes of play to build a 40-23 halftime cushion. 

The Pride broke open a 6-5 lead with an 8-0 spurt, capped off by an Emma Glaser (Norfolk, Mass.) bucket with 4:50 left in the first to give Springfield a 14-5 lead. Wheaton would cut the lead to six, only to have Daubon drill back-to-back trifectas inside the final minute to push the advantage to 22-10. 

Wheaton controlled the second quarter, getting within 28-23 with under three minutes to play, but Springfield would benefit from some terrific shooting down the stretch as they canned four triples in the final 2:11, including two from Hourihan, to have its lead balloon to 17 at the half.

The Lyons pulled within 10 in the third quarter, but a 6-0 burst allowed the Pride to keep the hosts from within striking distance.  Daubon knocked down a jumper to keep the lead at 16 with under four to play in the frame. 

Wheaton scored the first seven points of the fourth to make it a 57-48 deficit before two freebies from Daubon capped off a 6-2 run as Springfield regained a 63-50 advantage with 5:12 left in regulation.  The hosts would make things interesting down the stretch as an 11-4 surge made it a six-point game with less than two minutes to play.  However, Springfield was able to convert free throws down the stretch to pick up the conference victory. 

Springfield will not compete again until next Saturday when it travels to Wellesley for a 1 pm conference contest. 

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