Sports
Women’s basketball can’t cut it in Connecticut
By Patrick English '15, Sports Contributor
February 9, 2012
The Hamilton women’s basketball team (8-13, 1-7 NESCAC) suffered two tough losses this week on a road trip to Connecticut College (16-4, 5-3 NESCAC) and Wesleyan University (13-6, 5-3 NESCAC).
The Continentals got off to a good start in New London, CT on Thursday and played close throughout the first half, owning a 24-23 lead at halftime. Conn College answered with an 8-0 run early in the second half and took the lead for good with 14:20 left. After the Camels stretched their lead to 51-43 with 2:35 left, Hamilton rallied back on a clutch free throw and two jumpers by Eliza Howe ’13, cutting the lead to four with 33 seconds left. Unfortunately, it was too little too late, as Conn made their free throws to win the game 57-50.
Howe led the scoring for Hamilton with 27 points; Dani Feigin ’14 put up 17 points off the bench, and Kim Goidell ’14, Claire Husinger ’13 and Margaret Smith ’15 each had two points. Howe also led on the boards with eight, while Arianna Pulford ’15 pulled down seven, Goidell six and Olivia Pimm ’14 five.
The game at Wesleyan in Middletown, CT on Sunday was a different story. While the Continentals played well in the first half and trailed by only five at halftime, the Wesleyan Cardinals pulled away early in the second half and never looked back. A 13- 6 run early in the half gave Wesleyan a 40-28 lead with 16:51 left in the half. Hamilton rallied back with a 13-4 run to cut the lead to just three with 12:53 left on the strength of three buckets, including two from behind the arc, from Feigin. However, Hamilton went scoreless for over five minutes after that, allowing Wesleyan to score 13 straight points. For the final seven minutes of the game, Wesleyan held onto a double-digit lead, culminating in a tough, lopsided 72-52 loss.
“The Connecticut and Wesleyan games were very competitive. The score doesn’t always show how tough we are,” said Feigin, who led Hamilton in scoring with another great game off the bench, scoring 16. Howe had 13 and Husinger scored seven. Howe led the team in rebounds again with six. Three Cardinals posting double-digit performances helped Wesleyan’s cause.
“It’s always great to play teams that are going to push you to be your best, and I think being in the NESCAC is bringing out the best in us,” Feigin said.
“[NESCAC Play] is exciting and is a good measure of where we are compared to the top teams,” added Goidell.
The team has faced two tough adjustments this season: It is Coach Kate DeSorrento’s first season as head coach, and junior Madie Harlem is abroad.
“[Coach DeSorrento] has been really easy to work with, cares a lot about us and is very trustworthy,” said Goidell. On Harlem’s absence, she added, “It’s definitely hurt us, but we did a good job of learning to play without her and we grew a lot as a team.”
Despite three straight losses, the team hopes to rebound and finish the season strong this weekend. They play Tufts (18-5, 7-2 NESCAC) on Friday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. and Bates (9-13, 2-7 NESCAC) on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 12 p.m. Both games are at home in the Bundy Scott Field House.
“We want to play hard, play together and finish off the season on a high note,” said Goidell.
Feigin and Goidell are also really excited about the team’s outlook for next year:
“We have a lot of really good players who are constantly getting better—and that’s all we can hope for…To get better each year and grow as a team,” said Feigin.