Lady AMCATS Drop Mariott Courtyard Tournament Championship To Wesleyan

Middletown, Conn. –(12.3.11) Wesleyan University defeated Anna Maria 58-29 in the championship round of the Courtyard by Marriott women's basketball tournament to take the title on Saturday afternoon. Worcester State rebounded from an opening round loss to Anna Maria to take the consolation round 68-40 over Maine-Presque Isle. With the loss AMC's record evens at 3-3 while Wesleyan improves to 4-1. 

Wesleyan jumped out to an 11-1 lead in the opening 8:17 of the game and led by no less than seven before a 10-3 in the final four minutes of the frame spotted the Cardinals a 30-14 halftime bulge.  The lead steadily grew to 21 in the first five minutes of the second period, 36-15, and reached 27 at 47-20 with 6:48 remaining.  The final score represented the largest margin of the game.  

Senior Emily Lippe, who scored a game-high 13 points, earned MVP honors.  She also added five rebounds, four blocks, two assists and four steals in the game.  Her three three-pointers in the first half helped trigger Wesleyan's control of the outcome.  Sophomore Amber Wessells represented Wesleyan on the all-tournament team with her eight points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals in the title game.  

Chosen for the all-tournament team from Anna Maria were junior Chelsea Blair and senior Sam Ashton.  Ashton had a team-high eight points and eight rebounds in the championship game along with an assist, block and steal.  Blair had five points, six boards, an assist and a steal.  The Cardinals limited the AMCATS to 14.9 percent shooting in the game (7-for-47) and had a 48-37 edge on the glass.

Anna Maria returns to action on Tuesday evening when they travel to SUNY-Cobleskill for a 7:00 pm tip-off.

Release courtesy of Wesleyan athletics.

Photo courtesy of David Sheridan.