SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Clark University women's basketball team (13-5, 4-0 NEWMAC) rallied in the fourth quarter to come back and earn a 60-56 victory over Springfield (11-7, 2-2 NEWMAC) on Wednesday night from Blake Arena.
How it Happened
- The Cougars jumped out to an early 10-0 lead sparked by five points from junior Kailey Rios, three from sophomore Cyriah Coleman, and two from junior Emma Drefs before Carrie Hess made a layup to end the run.
- Drefs, first-year Leilani Benson, and junior Catherine Antwi all scored before the end of the first as Clark held the Pride to just seven points as they took a 16-7 lead into the second.
- The Cougars opened the second with 12 unanswered sparked by five points from first-year Atiya Watson, three from Coleman, and junior Olivia Shipley as well as Drefs scored to give Clark a 28-7 lead with 5:05 to go in the second.
- Clark held Springfield to just seven points while Drefs added two more points before the break as the scarlet and white took a 30-14 edge into the half.
- Springfield rattled off the first six points of the third before Watson made a layup, but the Pride rattled off the next 11 points to pull back within one at 32-31 with 4:34 to go in the quarter.
- Shipley scored Clark's next four points to tie the game at 36-36 and Coleman hit another triple before the end of the third as Springfield took a 43-39 advantage into the fourth.
- Springfield got up by as many as six before Benson and Watson combined for three points and a Watson layup made it a 47-44 game in favor of the Pride with 8:36 to play.
- Shipley made a layup and Antwi connected on a triple to pull back within two before Benson scored to tie the game at 51-51 with 4:42 remaining.
- Hess and Natalie Lucas scored the next five points of the game to push the lead to 56-51 and Clark's defense locked in and held them scoreless over the final 3:21.
- Clark ended the game on a 9-0 run sparked by a pair of triples from Antwi and Coleman made three free throws down the stretch as the Cougars came away with a 60-56 victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Clark made 23 shots, grabbed 33 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, and forced 18 turnovers.
- Coleman led the Cougars with 12 points, five assists, and five rebounds.
- Antwi added 11 points, including three made triples and grabbed five rebounds.
- Watson also reached double-figures with 10 points, while dishing out four assists and grabbing four rebounds.
- Benson pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and scored six points.
What's Next
The Cougars will return to the court on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Coast Guard to the Kneller for a contest beginning at 2:00 p.m.