For Immediate Release
December 2, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Courtesy Wentworth Sports Information
Seniors Lead Wellesley to Victory over Wentworth
BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Julia Thomas (Concord, CA) scored a game-high 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting, to go along with 12 rebounds, and classmate Jessica Duff (Milton, Abingdon, UK) scored 21 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as Wellesley defeated Wentworth 72-57, in a non-league contest played at Tansey Gymnasium.
The Blue jumped out to an early 10-3 lead, with five of those points coming from Duff. However, the Leopards right back and used a 10-1 run over the next to 5:12 to take a 12-11 lead on a layup by junior forward Jessie Coffey (Wakefield, RI). Duff followed with a three-pointer to give the visitors a 14-12 lead with 12:21 left in the half. That basket began a 10-2 run that would put Wellesley up by seven.
Wentworth came back to tie the game at 23-all with 7:30 left in the half on a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, NY). Two free throws by Duff and a three pointer from senior forward Courtney Richter (Sinking Spring, PA) gave the Blue a five-point cushion. Coffey scored five of the Leopards’ next nine points and her three pointer with 2:52 left gave the hosts a 32-29 lead.
With the score tied at 34, sophomore forward Sam Vinciguerra (Somersworth, N.H.) hit one of two free throws with 10 seconds left to give Wentworth a 35-34 lead that the Leopards would take into the locker room.
The Blue opened the second half of play with an 11-0 run, keeping Wentworth scoreless until the 16-minute mark of the half. Despite the Leopards chipping away and getting the lead down to six, Wellesley would increase its lead to as much as 15 with eight minutes left and not look back.
Seventeen of Thomas’ 26 points came in the second half, while 10 of Duff’s 21 points came from the free throw line, Additionally, Richter chipped in with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. The Blue held the Leopards to under 30 percent shooting from the floor in the second half and won the battle of the boards by a 57-35 margin.
Wentworth was led by Vallone, who scored 16 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and blocked four shots. Junior guard Michelle Fauci (Boxford, MA) was 6-for-9 from the floor, en route to a 16-point, five-assist night. Coffey finished the game with 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting.
The win improves Wellesley’s record to 3-2 and the Blue are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Albertus Magnus. Wentworth dropped its fifth straight to stand at 1-5. The Leopards travel to Bates on Thursday evening.