BOSTON, Mass. – Senior forwards Liz Brasa (East Hartford, Conn.) and Ashley McAdams (Freeport, N.Y.) combined for 32 points, with 18 and 14 respectively to propel the Simmons College women's basketball team to a 63-58 victory over host Wheelock College in non-conference action at The Winsor School Gymnasium in Boston, Mass. The Sharks improve to 6-10 on the season while the Wildcats drop to 9-9 overall.
Simmons dominated the glass, 50-36, and had a commanding, 20-7 advantage in bench points, with 14 points coming from McAdams, on the night. The Sharks also shot 82% (14-17) from the line, while Wheelock struggled shooting 44% on 8-18 from the charity stripe.
Brasa led the Sharks with her fifth double-double of the season with a season-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. McAdams provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Senior guard Jamie Zoldy (Watertown, Conn.) was the third Simmons player in double figures with 10 points, while pitching in three rebounds, two steals and one assist. Junior forward Presley Silva (Wilmington, Mass.) snagged 12 boards to go along with four points, two blocks, and one assist for the Sharks.
After a 30-all tie at halftime, Simmons rattled off a 17-4 run, ignited by six points from Brasa and five points from sophomore forward Lauren Brandau (Madison, Conn.), culminating with a basket by Zoldy at 3:21 left in the third quarter for a 47-34 lead. The 13-point lead woud be the largest lead of the game for the Sharks, as the Wildcats responded with a 9-2 run, led by two 3-pointers by senior guard Brianna Hochwarter (Attleboro, Mass.), to end the third period, 49-43.
Simmons and Wheelock traded baskets for much of the fourth quarter until the Wildcats went on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 59-58 with 10 seconds remaining. Hochwarter and junior guard Emma Siver (Colchester, Conn.) made layups while sophomore forward Katie Walsh (East Islip, N.Y.) knocked down a free throw during the run. The Sharks were a perfect 4-4 from the line, with two each coming from Brandau and Brasa to close out the game for the win, 63-58.
Simmons opened the game with a 4-0 run on two quick baskets from Brasa and sophomore guard Rebekah Carroll (Londonderry, N.H.). With 4:11 remaining in the first quarter, and the score, 10-8, the Sharks rattled off a 9-1 run sparked by four points from Silva and a three-pointer from sophomore guard, Francesca Corsinetti (Johnston, R.I.) to close the first quarter, 19-9.
Wheelock had a strong second quarter, outscoring Simmons 21-11 and taking their first lead of the game with 1:26 left before the break at 28-26. Hochwarter and Walsh were instrumental in the period shooting a combined 7-9 from the floor for 78%. Hochwarter was also 2-3 from behind the arc. The teams were locked in a 30-30 tie at the half.
Hochwarter led all scorers with 20 points and three rebounds, while Walsh pitched in with a double-double of 19 points and 11 boards for the Wildcats.
The Sharks will be back in action on Thursday, February 2 when they travel to Nashua, N.H to face GNAC opponenet Rivier University at 7:00 p.m., while Wheelock will resume their NECC conference schedule hosting Lesley University on the same day at 8:30 p.m.