AMHERST, Mass. -- Gabrielle Zaffiro scored 18 points and Jade DuVal recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 16 points and 13 rebounds as the 16th-ranked Amherst College women's basketball team stayed perfect on the season with a 63-39 win over Gordon College on Thursday night at LeFrak Gymnasium.
"Jade DuVal really stepped up tonight," said Amherst head coach G.P. Gromacki. "She was all over the glass and made some key plays for us."
The Mammoths (4-0) will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at defending GNAC champion Emmanuel, another team off to an undefeated start to its season. Note that Amherst's previously scheduled game at New Jersey City on Sunday, Nov. 21, has been canceled due to COVID protocols within the Gothic Knights program. (UPDATE 11/19: The Mammoths will now face Bates for a non-conference game on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. in Lewiston, Maine)
Madison Wynbeek scored 10 points to lead the Fighting Scots (1-3), who will next host Salem State on Tuesday.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Fighting Scots got off to a hot start, scoring the first 7 points of the game on 4 made free throws and a three-pointer from Serianna Anderson.
- The Mammoths got back in the game by the end of the first quarter. After a Dani Valdez jumper put Amherst's first points on the board, Zaffiro scored the next 11 points for the Mammoths, converting 4 fast-break layups before draining a three to give Amherst a 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
- The Mammoths never relinquished the lead from that point. AnLing Vera hit a three to cap a 16-9 Amherst advantage in the second quarter and send the Mammoths to halftime with a 29-21 lead.
- The Mammoths slowly built the lead to 13 points by the end of the third, then clamped down on defense in the fourth, allowing only 6 Gordon points in the final frame. DuVal tallied 8 points and 5 rebounds in the fourth quarter alone to cap her career night.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Vera scored 11 points for the Mammoths and led the team with a career-best 5 assists along with 2 rebounds and 2 steals.
- Senior captain Lauren Pelosi netted 10 points and tallied career highs with 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals.
- The Mammoths forced 23 Gordon turnovers while committing only 13 turnovers and turned that advantage into a 19-7 lead in points off turnovers.
- The Mammoths pulled down 23 offensive rebounds, the highest Amherst tally in a game since February 2018, and scored 21 second-chance points, including 17 in the second half. The Fighting Scots turned 9 offensive rebounds into 8 second-chance points.
