On to Bates: Amherst Dominates Conn 77 - 55

Last Saturday, the women’s basketball team faced off against Connecticut College (Conn) in the NESCAC Tournament Quarterfinal. In a matchup that the Mammoths have dominated since 2001 — beating the Camels 24 times and losing just once in 2007 — Amherst looked to once again beat the brakes off their NESCAC rival. With a sizable crowd in the Amherst bleachers and the energy high in LeFrak, the team wasn’t going to disappoint.  “The [Amherst women’s] team, they’ve always been good,” said Kamil Mouehla ’26, who attended the game.

Chase Anderson ’29 opened the game with a tough layup, and — after two solid defensive possessions — Reagan Pahl ’27 hit a 3-pointer to extend the team’s lead to 5-0. While Anderson would land a 3-pointer after a Conn layup, the quarter would remain stagnant until the final four minutes. Free throws from Laura Mendell ’26 and Brielle Renwick ’27, a layup by Pahl, and an Elizabeth Cain ’28 mid-range jumper extended Amherst’s lead to 16-9 at the first quarter’s end.

The Mammoths’ seven-point lead was not secure enough for Amherst, so they stepped on the gas even more in the second quarter. After Conn managed to lower Amherst’s lead to four points just three minutes into the period, Pahl made a clutch 3-pointer, followed by a Mendell steal into a layup, to spark a seven-minute drive by Amherst. Through, most prominently, Cain’s seven points in the second quarter, Pahl’s five, and Mendell’s four, the team went on a 15-2 run to give them a 35-18 lead by halftime. 

While Conn came out more competitive in the second half, it was not enough to outdo Amherst. The third quarter was by far the highest-scoring period in the game, with both teams scoring a combined 47 points. Despite the Camels having their most efficient run out of all the quarters — 35.3% from the field — the Mammoths did one better, going 50% from the field and 14-16 in free throws. Hitting these clutch free throws not only prevented Conn from catching up to Amherst, but extended the Mammoths’ lead by seven points — making the score 62-38 in Amherst’s favor by the third quarter’s end. 

After extending their lead to a whopping 24 points, Amherst comfortably sat back in the fourth quarter. For the first time in the game, Conn outscored Amherst through a full quarter, scoring 17-15. While neither side shot particularly well in the fourth quarter, the Amherst defense made Conn’s offense utterly dreadful in field goal efficiency — shooting 29.4% from the field and 11.1% from 3-pointers. The Mammoths’ two blocks and three steals ensured the Camels wouldn’t cut down the large point deficit by the game’s end, resulting in a final score of 77-55 and an Amherst win. 

After the game, I got to ask Pahl, Cain, and Anderson about the win. Pahl, who led the team in efficiency rating and scored 14 points, credited her team for her offensive success: “My teammates gave me great passes, really looking to push in transition.” Cain, leading the team in scoring with 15 points and going 7-11 from the field, also praised her teammates: “My teammates, driving in and seeing me, helps me get up those shots.” Besides her 12 points, Anderson also collected a game-high nine rebounds. “It’s a group effort,” Anderson said. “We’re all creating space for each other underneath the basket — I just happen to be the one who grabbed it.” 

While these three put on impressive individual performances, the team effort they credited was not unwarranted either. Of Amherst’s total 77 points, 31 came from the bench. Conn never had a chance to take the lead, with Amherst scoring first and constantly building onto its lead. Maintaining the lead created by the starting five, the bench was crucial in keeping the tempo up for the Mammoths and preventing any late-game heartbreak. Moreover, from Conn’s 10 turnovers, the team generated 15 points and earned 15 second-chance points. The hustle and grit of the team, along with its poise in shooting percentages and efficiency, ensured victory from the very first whistle.

The team will now face Bates in the NESCAC Tournament Semifinal in Brunswick, ME, on Feb. 28. After suffering a 54-63 loss to the Bobcats earlier in the season, the Mammoths will hopefully seek vengeance and to punch their ticket to the NESCAC Tournament Final. “I’m really excited, I think we have a great shot against Bates,” Pahl said. “It was a tough loss the first time, but I think we can get them this time.”