Women's wrap: UNE knocked off, North Central rolls

More news about: Bates | North Central (Ill.)
Jan 03, 2015
Molly Brown scored a career-high 31 points, 19 of them in the second half, to lead Bates.
Bates athletics file photo by Sarah Crosby 

Venturing outside its gym for just the second time all season, No. 18 University of New England got a cold reception from Bates as the Bobcats got 31 points from Molly Brown to defeat the Nor'easters 76-72.

Brown scored 19 of her points in the second half, including going 5-for-7 from 3-point range after halftime and 4-for-4 in the final 5:05. The Bobcats improved to 8-4 and have a non-conference game this week before moving into the NESCAC schedule next weekend.

North Central (Ill.) improved to 12-0, but the season's most successful System team won with decidedly non-System numbers, defeating Illinois Wesleyan 59-56. The Cardinals rallied from a 12-point second half deficit and took the lead with 58 seconds left in the game. North Central, which was led by Tess Godheart's 13 points, entered the day averaging 102.5 points per game.

North Central was just 8-for-37 from 3-point range, was outrebounded 49-36 and forced just 18 turnovers, but overcame a near triple-double from Kasey Reaber (19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists) to win its CCIW opener. The Titans (6-6) led 52-42 with just over 6:30 left but allowed the Cardinals to go on a 17-4 run to end the game.

No. 11 George Fox capped opening weekend of NWC play with a convincing win over No. 24 Puget Sound, 77-55. The Bruins hit six three-pointers in the first half compared to the Loggers' one, and Lauren Coding had a double-double before halftime. Coding finished with 10 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists for George Fox (11-0). Katy Ainslie scored 17 for Puget Sound (9-1).

Meredith Mesaris scored 20 points and added nine rebounds as No. 6 Scranton improved to 11-1, defeating Eizabethtown 58-46. It was the Blue Jays' first loss after an 8-0 start. Alley Fisher scored a game-high 20 points, 10 of them from the foul line as Concordia-Moorhead knocked off No. 22 St. Mary's (Minn.) 55-41. The Cardinals have lost three in a row, two of them since the last Top 25 poll.

Baylie Butler's layup with less than a second remaining on the clock in regulation snapped Louisiana College's two-game skid and gave LC a key 75-73 win in conference play at Hardin-Simmons. It was Butler's only bucket of the day. The game had to be moved to Hardin-Simmons because of complications in the renovation of LC's home facility. 

WPI improved to 9-2 for the first time in 30 years, defeating Simmons 82-40. Division III women's basketball has definitely changed since the 1984-85 season, the last time the Engineers started 9-2. Dani Davis led WPI with 13 points. Jess Rheinheimer scored a career-high 41 points and added 10 rebounds as well for a double-double as Eastern Mennonite rolled over Washington College 72-47.

UW-Superior, which has hopes of contending in its final season in the WIAC, has a little way to go after losing 86-52 at UW-Oshkosh. It is the Yellowjackets' first conference defeat of the season, while the Titans move to 11-1, 3-0. Marissa Selner led Oshkosh with 20 points while the Titans were 29-for-51 from the field.

Mariana Scarantino hit a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in the game and Allegheny survived a Wittenberg layup attempt in the final seconds to defeat the Tigers 59-58. Emma Pelliciano had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers, who improved to 10-3, 3-1 in the NCAC. Hamilton saw its win streak snapped at five games as Clarkson improved to 7-2 with a 79-66 win.