Wellesley, Mass. – Host Wellesley College placed four players in double figures and the Blue rallied from as many as 12 points down to knock off Clark University in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action on Friday evening.

Wellesley – just days after scoring 23 total points in a loss to Babson – scored 42 points in the second half as they shot a blistering 52 percent in the final 20 minutes and held Clark to just eight made baskets in the second half.

The Cougars raced out to a 20-8 lead midway through the first half as Kelsey Giedymin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scored five straight points to help Clark build their advantage.

Wellesley answered, going on an 8-0 spurt of their own to get within four, but Clark ran off seven straight as Giedymin again knocked down a three-pointer and Emily Reilly (Marlboro, Mass.) and Esther Cohn (Chapel Hill, N.C.) each had baskets.

The Cougars still led by ten at 36-26 three minutes into the second half after a Reilly triple but the Blue closed the gap to 41-38 four minutes later as Courtney Jackson dropped in a jumper.

After a pair of Annmarie Fransen (Belmont, Mass.) free throws, Wellesley mounted their biggest charge of the contest, running off eight straight points to take a 50-48 lead with less than seven minutes to play.

The game was tied two more times including at 54-54 following a Morganye Weaver inside hoop, but Ashleigh Condon (Hull, Mass.) put the Cougars up three on a three-point bomb with 2:56 left.

Weaver scored inside again and Kendall Bianchi hit a short jumper to put the Blue ahead, 58-57. Condon split a pair of free throws to tie the game again, but Malia Maier found Jackson for a layup and then blocked Condon's potential go-ahead three-pointer with 24 seconds left.

The Cougars still had life when a lane violation by Jackson after her first made free throw made the score 63-60 with five seconds left. Condon got to the other side of half court before launching another potential game-tying three-pointer that clanged off the back of the rim.

Wellesley dominated the interior, outscoring Clark 28-10 in the paint and holding a 43-35 edge in rebounds.

Maier, who became the Blue's all-time leader in assists in the win, finished with 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals, while Chelsi Scott finished with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in just 23 minutes. Weaver added a team-best 16 points and eight boards and Jackson chipped in with 12 points.

For Clark, Reilly led all scorers with 25 points, shooting 8-for-15 from the field, including 3-for-6 from behind the arc. Giedymin added 13 points and four boards, while Condon added 12 points and four assists.

Clark, now 5-2 overall and 2-2 in league play, returns to action on Wednesday when they travel to Johnson and Wales for a 7:00 p.m. game.