Women's Hoops: Upset puts Amherst in unchartered waters

Closing league play with two losses, the team worked diligently last week in practice in the week leading up to the game to perfect their skills: “We really focused on the defensive aspect of our game and worked to improve on little errors that we made in the previous two games,” said forward Katie Latham ’06. The team benefited from a new defensive strategy. “We played a 2-3 zone, which enabled us to focus more on their inside players who had played very well against us earlier in the season,”

Jeffs hope third time is charm vs. Cards

Bates, the number-one team in the country, dealt the Jeffs a 72-52 loss on Friday night, while Tufts topped Amherst with a 76-67 defeat. Despite the two disappointing losses, Amherst (14-10, 4-5 NESCAC) managed to grab the fifth seed in the NESCAC Tournament, which begins on Saturday. Despite impressive efforts, the Jeffs didn’t have the strength to outplay the second-ranked Bobcats last Friday. Bates came out strong, gaining an early 9-1 advantage within the first 4:31, and the visitors never

Women split two and prepare for NESCACs

On Jan. 8, Amherst lost to Williams in a non-conference game by a disappointing 24 points. Whether it was the adrenaline incited by a screaming crowd or the team’s own naked determination, the Jeffs played a much closer game against the rival Ephs on Saturday, losing by only 13. Led in points by first-year forward Matia Kostakis’ 19, the team put everything it had out onto the court. Williams started the game with a 12-2 spark, but Amherst fought back with a 9-0 run. Rookie forward Stephanie Rei

Women's basketball starts strong

Led by junior forward Katie Latham, the girls jumped to a 28-18 start after the first half of game one and never looked back. First-year forward Matia Kostakis and first-year guard Shaina Pollack each had quite the premiere, putting in a notable eight and seven points respectively, while Latham collected 15 points of her own. The Falcons saw little scoreboard action in the second half, as the Jeffs stifling defense held them to a shooting percentage of 23 from the field (seven of 30). Senior co

Women's basketball looks to replace four key starters

Of last year’s senior quad-captains-Shannon Russell, Caitlin Farrell, Marissa Maguire and LaShauna Barboza-Russell leaves the biggest shoes to be filled. A Second-Team All-NESCAC pick, she was Amherst’s all-time leading three-point shooter and had the second-most points in the program’s history. Despite these key losses the team is optimistic. “Although we lost four seniors last year we have gained five first-years and a transfer who all possess real talent,” said Kimberly Glazier ’07. “Accompa

Women's hoops clinches sixth seed

A win over Connecticut College on Feb. 13 and a loss to Wesleyan University the next day secured Amherst the sixth seed in the NESCAC Tournament. The Jeffs’ final record was 11-13 overall and 3-6 in the NESCAC. Amherst began the final weekend of the regular season 2-5 in NESCAC play with the end of the season on the line. However, the Jeffs had a few reasons to remain optimistic, especially because last week the Jeffs’ buzzer-beater victory over Trinity College moved the Jeffs into the eighth a

Women's basketball: Herlihy propels Jeffs past Trin

Trinity, which is currently ranked ninth in the NESCAC, grabbed an early lead in the game, but the Jeffs fought back and clinched a 27-25 lead at halftime. The lead see-sawed between the Jeffs and the Bantams throughout the second half. In the last minute of the game, Trinity seemed to have the win locked up. With 15 seconds remaining, the Bantams had a four-point lead and possession of the ball. As Trinity missed a free throw, senior quad-captain Shannon Russell took the ball downcourt and tig

Women's basketball shoots for improvement

While most take this time to free themselves from all obligations, the Amherst women’s basketball team plays feverishly in a hot gym, surrounded by sweat and adrenaline. They do endless drills, sprints and foul shots, all with an intense passion. Their drive is unrivaled; they will not be shut down. After finishing at .500 last year (2-7 NESCAC), the team has been working hard during preseason to prepare for the upcoming season. “We’re definitely looking to improve on our record from last year