WORCESTER, Mass. - Senior guard Gracie Rolfe (Newton, Mass.) matched a season-high with 10 points to lead the Simmons College women's basketball team in a 67-39 loss to host Clark University this evening in Worcester, Mass. the Sharks fall to 7-17 on the season, while the Cougars improve to 6-18.
The Clark defense held Simmons to just 25% (13-52) shooting from the floor, including 16.7 % (3-18) in the first half.
Rolfe added a pair of rebounds, an assist and a steal for the Sharks, while junior forward Ashley McAdams (Freeport, N.Y.) chipped in with six points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Clark scored eight of the first nine points of the game to take an 8-1 lead at the 4:04 mark of the opening quarter. Rolfe knocked down a three-pointer and McAdams converted a free throw to pull Simmons to within 8-5 with 2:45 to go in the first quarter. The Cougars closed out the period with a 9-2 run, paced by five points from sophomore guard Sam O'Gara (Worcester, Mass.), to take a 17-7 lead into the second quarter.
Clark took control of the contest in the second period, outscoring its guests, 25-6, behind eight points from O'Gara. The Cougars owned a 42-13 advantage at halftime.
The Cougars maintained a 51-21 cushion with 2:55 to go in the third quarter, before closing out the period with five straight points, including a three-pointer with 35 seconds left from first year guard Cori Ouellette (Madison, Conn.), to take a 56-21 lead into the final period.
First year guard Arielle Pierre (Valley Stream, N.Y.) hit a jump shot to give Clark its largest lead of the night at 60-21 with 8:49 showing in the four quarter, but the Sharks came alive with 11 straight points. A lay-up from first year forward Lauren Brandau (Madison, Conn.) capped the burst for Simmons to cut the deficit to 60-32 with 2:26 remaining in the contest. The Sharks' defense held the Cougars scoreless for 6:48. It was as close as Simmons would get as Clark came away with the 67-39 win.
The Sharks will be in action again on Saturday, February 20 when they host Johnson & Wales University at Moore Gymnasium for the final game of the season at 1:00 p.m., while the Cougars head to South Hadley, Mass. on the same day to take on Smith College at 2:00 p.m.