Second-Half Surge Moves Bowdoin Past Williams, 66-46
Courtesy Bowdoin Sports Information
BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team advanced to their seventh-straight NESCAC Final with a 66-46 victory over Williams on Saturday. The top-seeded Polar Bears will host second-seeded Tufts, in their first-ever NESCAC Tournament Final appearance, at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday, the Polar Bears shot 62.5% in the second half en route to a 20-point victory. Ahead by one point at intermission, the Polar Bears exploded for a 20-5 run that gave them command of the game. Tied at 32 apiece early in the second stanza after Mika Peterman connected on a three-pointer for Williams, Bowdoin got a lay-in from Eileen Flaherty, a steal and a fast-break bucket by Jill Anelauskas to start the run. Katie Cummings hit a three-pointer to continue the streak and Julia Loonin capped the run with a three-pointer of her own to give the Polar Bears a 52-37 edge with seven minutes to go.
Bowdoin held Williams to just 30% from the field in the second half, after a first period that saw Meghan Stetson singlehandedly keep her team in the game. Williams' senior guard notched 10 points in the first half, as the Polar Bears struggled on just 33% shooting.
The Polar Bears were led by a 20-point, nine-rebound effort from Eileen Flaherty, while Julia Loonin scored 12 points- including 3-for-3 from three-point range. Bowdoin's bench outscored Williams 16-3. The Ephs were led by 14 points from Meghan O'Malley, while Stetson finished with 11 and Maggie Miller with 10.
Bowdoin, the only team to have won a NESCAC Women's Basketball Championship, is 19-0 all-time in conference tournament play.
