WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Dani Valdez scored a team-high 20 points and AnLing Vera added 15 in just 19 minutes Wednesday night as the #7-ranked Amherst College women's basketball team defeated rival Williams, 73-59, in the Chandler Gymnasium.

Amherst improved its overall record to 10-1. The Mammoths are home Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip-off against conference rival Hamilton. Tonight's win gave Amherst the 2021-22 Little 3 title as it moved to 3-0 against Williams and Wesleyan on the season. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

*A 17-0 run in the second quarter turned the game in the Mammoths favor as Amherst outscored its hosts 26-12 in the second stanza. Ling led the way, hitting 5 consecutive three-pointers from the final buzzer of the first quarter until only 51.1 seconds remained in the second. The Mammoths shot 60 percent (9 of 15) from the floor in the second quarter. Ling's second three of the game and first of the quarter cut the Mammoths deficit to five. After a block by Maya Cwalina, she hustled down the court and  hit a baseline jumper to bring Amherst within one. Lauren Pelosi converted a lay-up opportunity for a 24-23 Amherst lead. Ling then nailed a try from the top of the key and moments later, capped the big run with her fourth three of the game for a 32-23 Mammoth lead two minutes before halftime. 

* The Mammoths stayed hot in the third quarter, hitting 61.5 (8 of 13) from the floor. In the meantime, the Amherst defense held the Ephs to just 25 percent shooting (9 of 36) from the floor over the span of the second and third quarters. 

* It was a spirited first quarter that saw the Mammoths down by two by the conclusion thanks in part to a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer from Vera. Amherst hit only 4 of 18 shots (22.2 percent) from the floor in the quarter. 

BY THE NUMBERS

* Amherst senior Lauren Pelosi posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win. The Mammoths outrebounded the Ephs for the game, 43-32.