Women’s Basketball Performs Remarkably on Senior Day Weekend

The Amherst women’s basketball team had an outstanding weekend as the team upset Bowdoin on Friday night and followed it up with a victory on Senior Day against Colby Saturday afternoon. This weekend marked the final regular season home games for a trio of seniors. Hannah Fox ’20, Madeline Eck ’20 and Cam Hendricks ’20 led the way to defeat a pair of NESCAC foes at home.

On Friday night, fans packed Lefrak Gymnasium as the #3 ranked Bowdoin Polar Bears came to town to take on the #9 ranked Amherst Mammoths. Bowdoin came into the game with only one loss on the season which had the team sitting in second place in the NESCAC. Amherst, third in the conference, wanted to make up ground on Bowdoin by handing the Polar Bears their second loss of the year.

The game could not have started any better for Amherst and head coach G.P. Gromacki. The Mammoths did not allow a single point in the first quarter and led 16-0 after ten minutes of play. With a commanding lead from the beginning, the Mammoths never looked back as they led the entire game.

Bowdoin attempted to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, twice cutting the deficit to six, but both times Amherst got a much-needed basket. Eck and Fox both made key plays down the stretch to ensure the Mammoths would hold on to claim the victory. Amherst fans have grown accustomed to seeing this over the past few years, and this game was no different as Eck and Fox both played the entire 40 minutes.

Fox led the way with 20 points while Eck contributed a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Although Eck and Fox led the way, Amherst received a huge spark from Dani Valdez ’22. Valdez, who was making her first start of the season, scored 10 points on the offensive end, but it was her defense that completely changed the game.

Both Valdez and Courtney Resch ’22 recorded three blocks each and disrupted the Bowdoin offense all night long. Bowdoin shot a season low 28.3% from the field and turned the ball over 19 times. It was a big win for the Mammoths on Friday night, and they were right back on the court Saturday afternoon.

Amherst hosted Colby on Saturday and came out a little sluggish after the senior day festivities. Amherst trailed 14-8 after one quarter but outscored Colby 22-4 to in the second quarter to take a 12-point halftime lead. Amherst cruised the rest of the way to claim a 53-36 victory over the visitors. Fox led the way with 16 while Hendricks and Maggie Shipley ’23 added eight a piece. It was another strong performance for the Mammoths and a great way to honor the careers of the three powerhouse seniors.

Amherst will be back in action on Feb. 14 when the team travels to Connecticut to take on Trinity. The Mammoths will then take on Connecticut College the next day at 3 p.m. These are the final regular season games before the NESCAC tournament begins on Feb. 22.