Springfield, Mass. - Led by a career-high 21 points from Emily Gins (Ft. Myers, Fla.), Springfield College staved off a very game Clark University squad, 77-65 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action on Wednesday night in Blake Arena.

With the win, Springfield improves to 13-7 overall, and 7-4 in conference play, while Clark falls to 4-17 (2-11) on the season.

Scoring a season-best 77 points over 40 minutes of play, the Pride shot 29-of-61 (47.5%) from the floor, while holding the Cougars to just 21-of-61 (34.4%) on the evening. Of the 29 baskets for Springfield on the night, 23 came with assists, including 13 baskets on 12 assists in the first half. The Pride also held a 48-8 advantage in bench points, while the Cougars held a 41-36 edge on the glass.

Along with 21 points, Gins chipped in five rebounds and three assists, while Molly McCausland (Millbury, Mass.) poured in a career-high 12 points. Lexi Windwer (Milton, Mass.) and Heather King (Lebanon, N.H.) registered 11 points apiece, with Windwer contributing an additional six rebounds.

For Clark, Aretha Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) posted a season-best 18 points and six rebounds, while Sam O'Gara (Worcester, Mass.) chipped in 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Additionally, freshman Ogechi Ezemma (Hope Valley, R.I.) tallied 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds – her second career double-double.

Clark jumped out to an early 9-2 lead with 5:38 left in the first quarter following a jumper from Haley Wilder (Rindge, N.H.), before Gins converted a layup, cutting Springfield's defecit to five. Baskets from Ezemma and O'Gara increased the Cougars lead to nine with 4:26 remaining, before a three-pointer from Windwer and a bucket in transition from Carli Brent brought the Pride to within four. With just seconds remaining in the opening stanza, sophomore Christa Brent (Wilmington, Mass.) hauled in a defensive board and found her sister, Carli Brent, in transition to make it 13-11, Clark, at the end of one.

A three-pointer from Carli Brent just 35 seconds into the second quarter jump-started the Pride's offense in the second quarter, as the two sides would trade baskets until a lay-up from Gins with 1:35 left in the half gave the Pride a one-point, 28-27, lead. A layup from King, followed by a free throw from Gins would give Springfield a 31-29 lead at the break.

After junior guard Danielle Racette (North Adams, Mass.) converted a free-throw with 6:01 left in the third quarter, a basket from Ava Adamopoulos (Ludlow, Mass.) pushed Springfield's lead to six with a basket midway through the period, before another jumper from King made it 45-37 with 4:22 left in the third. With just one second left on the clock, Christa Brent would convert a three-point play to give the Pride a 55-48 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

An 8-1 run to begin the fourth quarter, capped by a jumper from Windwer, gave the hosts a 12-point lead and the Pride would never look back as it extended its lead to as much as 17 following a free throw from McCausland. Clark would cut its deficit back to 13 following a triple from Sullivan, but Springfield would seal the 77-65 victory.

Clark is off until next Wednesday when they host Mount Holyoke at 7:00 p.m.