WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Ali Doswell '17 scored 13 of her game-high 22 points in the second half to help lead a late rally by the fourth-ranked Amherst College women's basketball team as it defeated 23rd-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University, 63-46 Thursday night at Geissler Gymnasium.

RECORDS
Amherst: 5-0
Eastern Connecticut State: 4-2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A very competitive first half, which featured a 46-point second quarter, saw Amherst hold a slight 37-33 edge at halftime. However, the Purple & White pulled away in the second half and outscored the Warriors, 26-13 in the final 20 minutes en route to the 63-46.
• Doswell was the only player in double-digits as she went 7-for-12 from the floor, and also grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists and recorded a steal. Meredith Doswell '17, Hannah Hackley '18, Jaimie Renner '17 and Marley Giddins '16 all added eight points each. Meredith Doswell pulled in a team-high 12 rebounds and registered a game-high five assists, and Renner led all players with three assists.
• Amherst shot 38.0% (19-50) from the floor, 30.0% (3-10) from three-point range and 75.9% (22-29) from the charity stripe. The visitor's also scored 21 points off turnovers, compared to four from the Warriors.
• Eastern Connecticut State was led by Jill Ritrosky and Erin Brooks with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Ritrosky also recorded a game-high 15 rebounds for the double-double, and dished out three assists.
• The Warriors shot 30.8% (16-52) from the floor, 23.1% (3-13) from beyond-the-arc and 57.9% (11-19) from the free throw line.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• Amherst opened the game on a 10-1 stretch within the first 5:02 of play as a three-pointer by Meredith Doswell capped off the run. However, a lay-up by Megan Cardarelli with seven seconds remaining in the opening stanza cut the deficit to six points.
• Both teams scored over 20 in the second quarter as Eastern Connecticut went 7-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-4 from downtown, while Amherst finished 5-for-13 and 2-for-4.
• The Warriors jumped out to a 7-0 run in the second as Ritrosky tallied four straight points to give the home team a 17-15 lead with 7:55 to play before the break.
• Amherst answered, and a three-pointer by Ali Doswell minutes later put the visitor's back up, 22-19 at the 6:17 mark. The Purple & White led by as much as eight down the stretch, but Eastern Connecticut got within four at the break.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• The second half was all Amherst as the visitor's held Eastern Connecticut to single digits in both the third and fourth quarters.
• A lay-up by Ali Doswell in the opening seconds led to an 8-0 run by Amherst as it took a 12-point lead at the 7:48 mark.
• Eastern Connecticut got within eight, twice, but a free throw by Jackie Nagle '18 with four seconds in the third put the Purple & White up, 52-41.
• The fourth quarter was all Amherst as it led by double-digits the rest of the way.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With the win, Amherst head coach G.P. Gromacki claimed his 400th career victory. He is an incredible 400-60 overall in his 16th year coaching (ninth with Amherst), which is good for a .870 winning percentage. Prior to the start of the 2015-16 season, Gromacki boasted the third highest winning percentage (.868) in the history of women's basketball, in all divisions, behind only Geno Auriemma of Division I powerhouse UConn and Leon Barmore of Louisiana Tech. 

UP NEXT

• Amherst is back in action Saturday, Dec. 5 and will host Bridgewater State at 2 p.m.
• Eastern Connecticut returns to the court Saturday as well and will play Southern Maine at home at 1 p.m.