NEW LONDON — The Colby-Sawyer women’s basketball team trailed 46-34 at the half, but came all the way back to defeat Husson University, 80-72, in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
Colby-Sawyer improves to 16-5 overall and 11-3 in the NAC. Husson drops to 12-9 overall and 10-4 in conference play
Three Chargers recorded double-doubles for the second time this season. Sophomore Tianna Sugars (Oxford, Maine) registered her 11th of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Emmani Robinson (Newburgh, N.Y.) was 10-of-13 from the floor for 21 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Lexie Hamilton (Sunapee, N.H.) added 15 points and 14 assists.
The 14 assists are the second most recorded in a single-game only behind her game of 16 last season. Seniors Amanda Calvo (South Deerfield, Mass.) and Alli Barrett (Kittery, Maine) rounded out the starting lineup to all reach double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The first quarter was played at a fast pace that saw both teams shoot the ball well. The action went back and forth for the first several minutes until Husson slowly pulled away for a 10-point lead at 24-14 with less than two minutes to go. Colby-Sawyer would end the frame with eight consecutive points to come within a bucket after 10 minutes, 24-22. The Eagles held a 13-5 lead in rebounding, which included eight offensive boards.
The visitors continued to hold the advantage in the second quarter, but the Chargers stayed close despite not shooting the ball well. A pair of jumpers from Anna MacKenzie (Plymouth, Maine) and Nicole Tapparo (Topsfield, Mass.) to end the half gave the Eagles a 46-34 lead. Colby-Sawyer shot 25% in the frame, while Husson knocked down 46.7 percent. Ireland had a game best 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the half.
Colby-Sawyer turned the game around out of the halftime locker room. The Chargers slowly chipped away at the deficit and came within one (48-47) after a Calvo jumper midway through third quarter. The teams exchanged buckets over the next couple of minutes before a Sugars layup pulled Colby-Sawyer all the way back to tie the game at 52-52 with 1:47 left in the stanza. The Eagles still took a lead into the fourth quarter after two made free throws from Megan Peach (Garland, Maine) ended the third with Husson in front 54-52.
Robinson opened the fourth with a layup and was followed by a three-pointer from Alli Barrett to give the Chargers their first lead since 5:27 of the first quarter. Colby-Sawyer turned up the intensity on both ends of the floor and eventually went ahead by nine (73-64) after a trey from Hamilton with 2:58 left to play.
A pair of Kenzie Worcester three-pointers would pull Husson within four with 30 seconds left, but Colby-Sawyer made free throws down the stretch to complete the comeback 80-72. Colby-Sawyer was 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) in the quarter, while Husson made 6-of-20 (30 percent) of its attempts.
The Chargers shot 53.7 percent from the field, while holding Husson to 37.7 percent. After the Eagles held a 25-17 advantage in rebounding at the half, Colby-Sawyer turned the margin in its favor down the stretch to finish with a 38-36 edge on the glass.
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