WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Amherst College women's basketball team defeated rival Williams College, 62-54, in an away game behind double-digit scoring from  Laura Mendell, Maya Cwalina, Reagan Pahl and Macie Nugent Saturday afternoon in the Chandler Gymnasium.

The Mammoths (18-6, 6-4) wait their opponent in the 2025 NESCAC Tournament quarterfinals slated for February 22nd. The seedings will be announced Sunday evening. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: 

* Amherst got a jump on Williams in quarter one, thanks to a five-point run following a jumper from Elizabeth Cain, and a layup and free throw from Mendell. The Mammoths had a six-point lead, 10-4, with four minutes and 34 seconds remaining on the clock. Williams put a few points on the board, but Amherst closed the quarter well. Cain had an impressive steal, which she passed to Mendell, who assisted Nugent to a layup with 3 minutes and 24 seconds on the clock. Cwalina drained a layup, and put two free throws on the board in the final minute and a half to send the Mammoths into the second quarter with an 18-10 lead.

* Williams crept back up in quarter two, getting within two points of the Mammoths by the six-minute mark, yet the Mammoths retained the lead. Cwalina drained a jumper off of an assist from Sylvia Liddle to elevate the score to 26-22. Anna Tranum and Mendell followed with three points on free throws to give the Mammoths a buffer. Nugent and Tranum each put layups on the board in the final two minutes. The Mammoths entered halftime with a 33-27 advantage. 

* Mendell contributed significantly to the Mammoths' score in quarter three, putting six points on the board in the first four minutes of the quarter. The Mammoths put seven points to the Ephs' two in the time between six and a half minutes and four minutes, with Mendell draining a layup, Nugent scoring a free throw point and jumper, and Pahl sinking a layup. By the final quarter, the Mammoths had a ten-point lead, 50-40. 

* The Ephs got within five points of the Mammoths in the first three minutes of the final quarter, but the Mammoths retained the lead. Pahl sank an impressive jumper after a short timeout that began a nine-to-one run for the Mammoths. Pahl also scored a three-pointer at the five-minute mark to push the Mammoths ahead of Williams by 12 points, 57-45. The Mammoths continued to play a fantastic offensive game, concluding quarter four with a victory, 62-54. 

BY THE NUMBERS: 

* Cwalina earned a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

* Mendell, Nugent, Pahl, and Cwalina each scored in the double-digits with 20, 12, 11, and 10 points, respectively

* The Mammoths had 14 steals in the game and forced 21 Williams turnovers. Pahl led the team with 4 steals.