November 19, 2006

AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College women's basketball team dropped the finale of the Amherst College Women's Hoops Classic on Sunday night, a 67-57 loss to Piedmont College (Ga.). With the loss, the Jeffs move to 1-1. Piedmont, meanwhile, improves to 2-0.

Piedmont built up a quick five-point lead out of the gate, capped by a Nikki Sosebee conversion from the line. The Lions stayed ahead of the Jeffs in the game's early minutes. Junior tri-captain guard Shaina Pollack (Great Neck, NY) hit a baseline jumper midway through the first half to keep Amherst within seven; the next five minutes saw a Jeff comeback from the stripe. Sophomore forward Kerry O'Loughlin (Stow, MA) nailed both her free throws; junior tri-captain forward Stefanie Reiff (Hinsdale, IL) converted two throws a minute later; and first-year forward Samantha Swensen (Rockaway Park, NY) nailed one of her charities to get Amherst back within two.

Sophomore forward Yasmine Harik (New York, NY) notched a dish from Pollack for two on a baseline-to-baseline run, and then drove for a textbook layup with three minutes left in the half, before Pollack lined the ball to Swensen, who came up with another layup to tie the game at 30. Piedmont saw its opening, though: Beth Adcock found Sarah Lane, who came up with a gorgeous three off the baseline to put Piedmont up by five at the break.

Amherst junior forward Anne-Claire Roesch (Westport, CT) started the second frame with a solid three-pointer to tie. The score stayed tight until the ninth minute of the half, when O'Laughlin laughed last with a baseline jumper to give the Jeffs a 43-38 lead. That was the largest lead Amherst would see, though. Adcock sunk two free throws to get the Lions back to a one-point deficit, and Yetta Bailey coverted one to knot the board at 47. Piedmot pulled away from Amherst from there; O'Laughlin added two points to Amherst's effort, and Pollack launched a three with four minutes left, but Amherst couldn't get back in the game. Piedmont sealed the deal with a Lisa Jennings trey and a Kayla Duncan shot from the top of the key.

Reiff turned in a memorable performance in the loss with seven rebounds and a game-high 20 points, including 10-for-10 shooting from the line. Pollack showed up with 12 points, and O'Laughlin chipped in with 10 points and eight boards. Piedmont's Bailey took home a double-double on 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Sosebee led the Lions with 16 points.

In other Classic action, Middlebury College thundered through the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, 72-49.

Amherst returns to action Tuesday night, when it hosts local rival Mount Holyoke College at 7:00 p.m.

Amherst College Women's Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team

AMHERST V. PIEDMONT BOX SCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY

UMASS-DARTMOUTH V. MIDDLEBURY BOX SCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY