BABSON PARK, Mass. – No. 3 Clark University Women's Basketball (18-8, 8-3 NEWMAC) traveled to No. 2 Babson (18-8, 9-2 NEWMAC) for the NEWMAC Semifinals. The Cougars controlled the contest from the outset, winning each of the first three quarters to build a 24-point advantage. Despite an early fourth-quarter surge from the Beavers, Clark held firm to secure a 68-51 victory and punch its ticket to the NEWMAC Championship.
How it Happened
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Babson jumped out to an 11-4 advantage, despite a layup from junior Olivia Shipley and a jumper from first-year Atiya Watson.
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The Cougars responded with an 8-1 run fueled by triples from sophomore Cyriah Coleman and junior Catherine Antwi, while a layup by first-year Leilani Benson capped the stretch and tied the game at 12 with 3:26 to play in the quarter.
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After a pair of Beaver free throws, Clark closed the quarter on a 5-0 run behind a three from Kailey Rios and a late lay-in from Benson to take a 17-14 lead into the second.
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Following a back-and-forth start to the second quarter, Clark erupted for a 15-3 run over the final 6:41 of the half. The surge featured a layup from junior Emma Drefs, a jumper by Coleman, and three-pointers from junior Mia Mabanag and Antwi, as the Cougars carried a 35-19 lead into halftime.
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Despite a quick five points from the Beavers to open the third, a pair of layups by Shipley and a lay-in from Watson answered the surge, and a jumper from Emma Drefs pushed the lead past 20 for the first time.
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The advantage grew to as many as 24 after a triple from junior Kailey Rios, before a 5-0 Babson run trimmed the margin to 48-29 with 3:06 remaining in the quarter.
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A Drefs and-one layup followed by another three from Rios sent Clark into the final 10 minutes with a 56-34 lead.
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Babson came out firing in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 13, but a layup from Coleman helped halt the momentum and made it 61-47 with 4:36 to play.
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Drefs scored the Cougars final four points in the paint and at the line to seal a 68-51 victory for Clark, punching its ticket to the NEWMAC Championship.
Inside the Box Score
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This will be the first Championship appearance for Clark since 2005.
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This was the first win for the Cougars over the Beavers since 2014 and the first win on the road at Babson since 2007.
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Drefs scored a career-high 16 points in the victory, also adding team-highs in rebounds (8) and steals (3).
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Watson added 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
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Coleman and Rios each added nine points in the effort.
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Benson finished with seven points and seven rebounds.
What's Next
The Scarlet and White travel to take on Smith on Sunday at 1:00 PM in the NEWMAC Championship.