AMHERST, Mass. – Sophomore guard Reeya Patel tallied 16 points and 4 steals to lead the Amherst College women's basketball team to a 72-54 win over archrival Williams College in NESCAC action on Saturday afternoon at LeFrak Gymnasium.
The Mammoths (8-0, 1-0 NESCAC), ranked third in the nation in the latest D3hoops poll and second in the WBCA coaches poll, have now won 10 straight games dating back to the previous season and 13 straight against the Ephs (6-7, 1-1) dating back to 2015. Amherst is off to the early lead for the Little Three title with wins already against both Williams and Wesleyan with one more game against each later this month.
Amherst is back in action on Friday (Jan. 14), visiting Bates for a NESCAC duel at 7 p.m.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Patel scored three of Amherst's first four baskets as the Mammoths raced out to a 10-0 lead and never trailed. Amherst led by a 21-5 score by the end of the first quarter with Patel netting eight points in the opening frame.
- The Ephs scored five quick points to open the second quarter and cut the lead to 11 but the Mammoths responded with 10-1 run to push the lead to 20 and maintained that edge to take a 36-16 lead into halftime.
- Back-to-back three-pointers by AnLing Vera and Gabrielle Zaffiro stretched the Amherst lead to 30 points late in the third quarter.
- Williams chipped away down the stretch but couldn't get back within 20 until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Seniors Zaffiro and Lauren Pelosi each scored 12 points to join Patel in double figures.
- Senior Courtney Resch pulled down a season-best 11 rebounds and blocked 3 shots to go with 8 points.
- Vera also scored 8 points and dished 5 assists.
- Senior Dani Valdez scored 6 points and blocked 3 shots.
- The Mammoths shot 47 percent from the floor while holding the Ephs to 35 percent.
