Hamilton College’s Madie Harlem '13 recorded her third consecutive double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Continentals pulled away late for a 57-46 NESCAC victory over Wesleyan University at Hamilton’s Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Feb. 3.
The Continentals (11-10 overall, 2-6 NESCAC) entered the weekend ranked 27th in Division III in scoring defense at 50.2 points allowed per game. Hamilton honored Harlem, Eliza Howe '13 and Kim Goidell '13 before the game for their four seasons of dedication to the program.
Harlem added four assists and four steals in the win. She leads the NESCAC with 2.3 steals per game. Samantha Graber '16 scored 14 points and pulled down seven boards, and Howe finished with 11 points and three steals. Goidell, who missed the last three games due to injury, chipped in seven points and six rebounds.
Jackie Browne '16 led the Cardinals with 12 points off the bench. Jess Cherenza '15 pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and added eight points and three steals. Kellyann Rooney '14 handed out four assists.
Hamilton jumped out to a 9-2 lead less than five minutes into the first half. The Continentals remained out in front until Miller Hartsoe '15 made a layup with three seconds left that gave the Cardinals a 20-19 lead at the break.
The Continentals scored seven of the first nine points early in the second half and reclaimed the lead at 26-22. Graber scored five straight during the spurt. But Browne hit a 3-pointer with 15:48 left to play, Amber Wessells '14 knocked down a jumper and the Cardinals were back up, 30-28.
Consecutive baskets by Howe put Hamilton back in front 32-30, and the Continentals stayed ahead the rest of the afternoon. Goidell made a layup, Graber converted two free throws and Adrianna Pulford '15 added a layup that capped the 10-0 Hamilton run for a 38-30 lead with 10:34 left.
Wesleyan (9-10, 2-6) closed to within 41-36 with 8:02 remaining. But an 8-1 run highlighted by five points by Harlem gave the Continentals their largest lead at 49-37. The Cardinals responded with the next six points and trailed 49-43 with 3:31 to go. But a layup by Graber and a pair of free throws by both Harlem and Goidell pushed Hamilton’s lead back to double digits at 55-44 with 49 seconds left.
The Continentals shot 55.6 percent in the second half and 43 percent (18-42) for the game, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range. The Cardinals shot just 32.7 percent (18-55) from the floor, including 5 of 16 from beyond the arc.
Hamilton was able to pull away in the second half by going 16-for-21 (76.2 percent) at the free-throw line in the second half. Wesleyan went 5-for-15 at the charity stripe for the afternoon. The Continentals enjoyed a 37-32 advantage on the glass.
Hamilton goes on the road for a NESCAC game at nationally ranked Tufts University on Friday, Feb. 8. Wesleyan returns home to face Bowdoin College on Friday.
