Women's wrap: First of all

More news about: Amherst | Christopher Newport | St. Mary-s (Minn.)
Feb 01, 2014
Nicole Mitchell helped push Christopher Newport into a virtual tie for first in the CAC.
Christopher Newport athletics file photo

No. 17 Christopher Newport and No. 21 St. Mary's (Minn.) started the final month of the regular season with wins that could propel them to first place finishes.

Christopher Newport edged previously unbeaten and eighth ranked York (Pa.) 67-64 in overtime. Nicole Mitchell had 17 points, 10 rebounds and two critical steals late in overtime that helped the Captains turn a two-point deficit into a three point lead. There were 14 lead changes and neither team led by more than six.

The Captains' win pulls them within a half-game of the Spartans for first place in the CAC. The teams split their regular season series with each winning at home.  York's loss reduces the number of unbeaten women's teams to six. See below for more on those teams.

St. Mary's (Minn.) cleared another another major hurdle in its bid to win the MIAC title. The Cardinals held off Concordia-Moorhead 72-69 behind 76 percent free throw shotting (22-for-29). St. Mary's (Minn.) has a two game lead on the Cobbers and swept the regular season series, with No. 18 St. Thomas sitting between them. The Tommies took care of Carleton, 65-40.

Who is still undefeated?

  No. 1 DePauw won at Oberlin, 67-62
  No. 3 Whitman won vs. Willamette, 78-33
  No. 4 Hope won vs. Calvin, 78-47
  No. 5 Thomas More won at Waynesburg, 95-63
  No. 6 Tufts won at Wesleyan, 62-53
  No. 8 FDU-Florham won at Misericordia, 84-52

No. 16 Amherst got enough offense from its reserves to win at No. 19 Bowdoin, 65-57. Marley Giddens scored 14 points and Meredith Doswell added 12 more for the Lord Jeffs. No. 1 DePauw hasn't lost a game in the NCAC yet, but Saturday's victory didn't come easy. The Tigers survived a late charge from Oberlin, 67-62. The Yeowomen, who are just 8-12, shot 54 percent and were led by Christina Marquette's 31 points.

No. 4 Hope basically wrapped up the MIAA title by trouncing archrival Calvin, 78-47. The Flying Dutch have a two-game lead in the standings, own the tie-breaker over second place Olivet and only play two more games against opponents with a winning record in conference.

No. 10 Carthage survived its trip to North Central (Ill.) 80-76, as Alexis Hahn paced the Lady Reds with 18 points. Carthage outrebounded the up-tempo Cardinals, 60-41. No. 25 Scranton bounced back from Wednesday night's tough loss to Moravian by pounding Juniata, 76-52. Scranton's Alexix Roman scored 28 points in the game and Meredith Mesaris scored the 1,000th point of her career.

Johns Hopkins became the first team this season to win at Haverford and pulled within a game of first place in the Centennial Conference. The Blue Jays held the Fords to 11 second-half points and won the defensive struggle, 44-40. Elizabethtown held Lebanon Valley to 11 first-half points and Taylor Alwine's jumper in the closing seconds lifted those Blue Jays to victory, 48-46.

After starting the season 2-7, Smith has fought its way into the NEWMAC race. The Pioneers knocked off Wellesley, 56-51, and sit one game back of first place.  Wellesley shares first with Coast Guard.

Clarkson shot 43 percent from the field and rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat William Smith, 69-57. The Herons have lost three straight after winning 12 in a row.

New Jersey City is trying to stay in contention for the NJAC tournament and did so in a big way, rolling over Kean 72-49. The Gothic Knights blocked 11 shots.