BOX SCORE

The women’s basketball team lost to #2-ranked Amherst College, 79-59, on Saturday afternoon in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The Amherst Lord Jeffs (6-0) led from start to finish and built a 41-24 halftime advantage on 53 percentage shooting (18-34), while the visiting Bearcats struggled early at 31 percent (9-29).

The second half was entirely a new game with several runs by both teams.

Amherst started the second half with a quick 3-pointer by Kim Fiorentino to take a 20-point lead (44-24), but it would not stay that high as the Bearcats went on an impressive 23-9 run in the next eight minutes to get as close as 53-47 with 11:21 remaining.

Amherst fought back and turned the momentum in their favor with an 18-6 run in the next seven minutes to go back up 71-53 with 4:17 remaining. The Lord Jeffs would hold on for the 79-59 victory to win their Amherst Classic.

Megan Bouwens led the Bearcats (4-1) with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Monique Salmon finished with 12 points. Kalea Davis (nine rebounds) and Christina Kelly (five rebounds) recorded 10 points each.

Salmon and Davis were also named to the All Tournament Team.

Caroline Stedman led Amherst from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) with 18 points and six rebounds, while Lem Atanga McCormick had 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

The women’s basketball team will return to action on Monday night with a 5:30 pm non-conference home game against Rutgers-Newark from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).