01/09/2008
Women's Basketball Drops First NEWMAC game to Babson

WORCESTER, MASS. 1/9/08  The Clark University womens basketball team dropped a 66-52 decision to Babson College in a New England Womens and Mens Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match-up, the first conference game for either team, Wednesday night at the Kneller Athletic Center.

With the loss, Clark falls to 4-7 overall (0-1 NEWMAC) while Babson improves to 4-7 (1-0 NEWMAC).

Jillian Camilleri (Lancaster, Mass.) scored 16 points to lead the Cougar offense. Sarah Roderigue (Oaklane, Me.) and Jess Lamothe (Westboro, Mass.) put up 13 points with seven boards and 12 points with four rebounds, respectively.

Linsey Poulson (Leominster, Mass.) led all scorers in the match with 19 points and eight rebounds for the Beavers. Caitlin Fenn (Niantic, Conn.) added 14 points with three steals.

The two teams battled evenly to start the match as there were three ties in the first seven minutes. Babson slowly pulled away, however, as they gained a six-point advantage (17-11) with a jumper from Fenn. A free throw by Poulson gave the Beavers an 18-11 lead, the largest in the half for either team.

Lamothe brought Clark back with six straight points to cut the lead to 20-17. A lay-up by Becky Pelletier (Harwinton, Conn.) gave Babson a five point edge (22-17), but Lamothe followed Roderigues lay-up with a steal and bucket of her own to pull within one (22-21). Defensive play for the last 2:45 of the half kept it a one point game heading into the break.

Babson found a way to pull ahead in the second period when Fenn drilled a three from the corner to go up 33-27. Fenns shot ignited a 14-2 Beaver run that stretched the lead to 44-29, the largest spread in the game. Clark pulled within seven (56-49) with a free throw from Roderigue, but Rebecca Bowman (Melrose, Mass.) answered with a trey to regain a double-digit lead with just over two minutes to play to seal the victory.

Babson shot 60.9% from the floor in the second half to Clarks 37%. The Beavers held a slim 40-37 advantage in rebounds, but the Cougars snatched up 13 offensive boards to Babsons six.

Clark next hosts Mount Holyoke College on Saturday (1 pm) while Babson travels to Wheaton College the same day (3 pm).

By: Bill Cobb, Sports Information Intern