Pilgrims sink AMCATS with late three, 78-75

PAXTON, Mass. (02.12.11)  – Senior Rachel Williams (Chapel Hill, N.C.) compiled a game-high 25 points and eight steals while freshman Jenna Ledy (Pickford, Mich.) hit a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds to lift the New England College women's basketball team to 78-75 victory over Anna Maria in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference match-up on Saturday afternoon. The win improves the Pilgrims to 12-11 (5-6 TCCC), while the loss drops the AMCATS to 7-16 (1-10 TCCC).

In addition to her game winning three-pointer, Ledy added 15-points and seven rebounds for the Pilgrims. Jessie Ledy (Pickford, Mich.) and Stephanie Parker (Wilder, V.T.) also scored in double-figures for the visitors, chipping in with 12 points and 11 points, respectively. 

All five starters for the AMCATS scored in double-figures, with Chelsea Blair (Holland, Mass.) filling the stat sheet with 14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.  Samantha Ashton (Worcester, Mass.) and Emily Nugent (Worcester, Mass.) tied for a team-high in points with 17 apiece, as Ashton also added seven rebounds and five assists.  Kayla Cummings (Auburn, Maine) and Alison McCarthy (Lynn, Mass.) rounded-out the balanced attack, adding 11 points and 10 points, respectively.     

Anna Maria raced out to an early 13-8 lead, however, the Pilgrims immediately responded with an 11-1 run to build a 14-9 advantage. NEC remained in control for the remainder of the half, holding a 41-30 lead with 18 seconds left to go in the period.  Emily Nugent buried a three-pointer just before intermission to cut the score to 44-31 as both teams headed into the locker room.   

Nugent paced Anna Maria in the first-half with a half-high 10 points and three steals, while Rachel Williams filled the stat-sheet with 10 points, five rebounds and three steals for the visitors. 

Both teams were efficient from the field in the first frame, with the Pilgrims shooting an impressive 58% as a team and the AMCATS knocking down a respectable 43%.

NEC remained in command during the start of the second half, pushing their lead to as many as 17. 

With the score standing at 65-48 and 9:53 remaining in the game, it appeared as if the Pilgrims were going to cruise their way to victory. However, three-pointers by both Nugent and Alison McCarthy, combined with a jumper by Samantha Ashton cut the lead to nine with 6:36 left to play.

After Rachel Williams hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe, McCarthy buried another three-pointer, pulling the AMCATS to within seven. 

Ashton and Blair converted on consecutive lay-up attempts, pulling AMC to within three at 70-67 with 4:01 remaining.

After two free-throws by Williams pushed the advantage back to five, stifling defense by the AMCATS led to a 6-0 run on lay-ups by Blair, Ashton, and Nugent.  The 6-0 run put the AMCATS ahead by a score of 73-72, giving the team their first lead since halfway through the opening period.

With just over a minute remaining, Stephanie Parker set-up Kate Levy who knocked down a clutch three-pointer to regain the lead for NEC, 75-73. 

The AMCATS turned the ball over on the next possession and were forced to foul Rachel Williams, who went to the free-throw line to shoot one-and-one. Williams missed the first free-throw and Kayla Cummings grabbed the defensive rebound, dribbled up the court, and fed Blair for a nice turn-around lay-up to even the score at 75-all with 18 seconds left on the clock. 

With the final seconds winding down, Stephanie Parker made a nice cross-court pass to Jenna Ledy nailed the game-winning three-pointer with just six ticks remaining in regulation. 

The AMCATS managed to work the ball down court nicely on their final possession, but a last second three-point by McCarthy was off the mark, as NEC walked away with the 78-75 victory.

Both teams continue TCCC play on Wednesday at 5:30 pm, with New England College hosting Endicott College, and the AMCATS traveling to face Western New England College.

Release Courtesy of Jeffrey S. Lander for AMC Sports Information

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information