Courtesy Williams Sports Information

Box Score

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Meghan O'Malley posted her third double-double (21 points, 11 rebounds) in as many games in this afternoons contest against Wesleyan College. She finished the game shooting 9-for-13 on the night to lead the Ephs past the Cardinals 63-53 and into the semifinals of the 2007 NESCAC Women's Basketball Championship.

Williams and Wesleyan are familiar foes this season, having battled each other two times already in regular season play. The Ephs swept all three games against their Little Three and conference opponent.

Maggie Miller, O'Malley's frontcourt counterpart, managed to tally a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) despite battling foul trouble throughout the entire game. Miller fouled out with 3:42 left in the second half.

Meredith Lowe led all Wesleyan scorers with 12 points and 5 boards. Sara Milburn chipped in 8 points and 5 rebounds for the Cardinals.

Both Wesleyan and Williams struggled to maintain any offensive rhythm in the opening minutes of play. Neither team could hold onto the ball and committed a combined 25 turnovers in the first half.

The largest lead of the night by either team was four points before the final minutes of the half. Williams executed their half court sets on offense to power ahead of Wesleyan and grabbed a 31-21 lead in the last two seconds off an O'Malley three from the corner.

The O'Malley bucket gave the Ephs all the momentum, as Williams went on a 7-0 run to open the second half. The Ephs extended their lead to 18 points at 13:20. Wesleyan would not leave Chandler Gymnasium that easily, and narrowed the lead to 11 at the ten minute mark.

Wesleyan slowly chipped away at the Williams lead by picking up their offensive intensity. At 3:20, Sarah Milburn drained a three to narrow the lead to 10 at 66-56. Kelly Bowman followed with a transition lay up to bring the Ephs lead to single digits.

Williams stayed calm in the closing minutes, slowing the pace of the game down considerably and managing the shot clock. Clutch free throw shooting in the final minute sealed the victory for the Ephs.

Williams heads to Maine next Saturday afternoon to face the top ranked Bowdoin Polar Bears in the NESCAC semifinals.