WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. – The Williams College Ephs (3-2, 0-0, NESCAC) led the whole game against the MCLA Trailblazers (1-5, 0-0, MASCAC) to achieve their 3rd win of the season 84-37.
The Ephs moved the basketball smoothly, had great teamwork on plays, and stole the ball on transitions. As a team, they finished with a 55.1 FG%, 42 rebounds, 32 assists, and 18 steals. Ephs head coach Pat Manning emphasized, “Cortland McBarron was one rebound away from a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. She has been playing great D, so it was great to see her have a great offensive day as well.”
Cortland McBarron started of the day with the Ephs first four points following up with a great rebound and assist pass to Kate Keenan to drain her first three of the day. For the rest of the quarter, we saw the Ephs quickly moving the ball smoothly around the arc to find clear openings for shots. The quarter ended with the Ephs ahead 22-12 as the Eph’s defense revved up to pressure the Trailblazers.
Ellie Tounkara had the first steal of the 2nd quarter, opening up the quarter of steals for the Ephs. She found Cortland McBarron moving around the court for a two from the baseline, widening the Ephs’ lead of the game 24-12. Williams player-to-player full court defense in the 2nd pressured the Trailblazers allowing the Ephs to end the half with 10 steals and 19 assists; Ellie Tounkara responsible for 4 of those steals and 9 of those assists by the half. Throughout the half, the Ephs moved the ball around the arc, utilizing each player’s positioning to capitalize on clear shots.
With an early and quick start to the 3rd quarter, Arianna Gerig drove into the basket, passed it to Mairi Smith for an open two. And then, Ephs defense became their offense as Mairi Smith stole the ball in transition and passed it back to Arianna Gerig for a layup, making the game 48-19. Kate Keenan and Izzy Sullivan played a great tag team with two back-to-back Keenan assists to Sullivan layups continuing to build Williams lead 64-25.
In the fourth quarter, Hanorah Murphy opened it up with an offensive rebound to assist Tatum Leuenberger with an open three pointer. The Ephs worked an in-and-out play in the key where Logan Coster drove in to pull Trailblazer defense with her as she passed to Hanorah Murphy for a two. Quickly following, Logan Coster stole the ball on the transition again and faked a bounce pass into a layup, making the game 73-30.
The Ephs finished up the day with great numbers all around, finishing the game 84-37 against the Trailblazers. Arianna Gerig, Cortland McBarron, and Izzy Sullivan all had double digit scoring, Ellie Tounkara finished with 10 assists, and Cortland McBarron and Logan Coster led the team in rebounds. Coach Pat Manning said, “It was an all-around team win, a solid team performance. Everyone came in and made a difference. It was the team game that we were looking for.”
Next up for the Ephs, they will stay at home for a match against Skidmore College in Chandler Gymnasium with a 5pm start time.
