BRUNSWICK, ME —

After a dominant quarterfinal win over Connecticut College last weekend, the Amherst College women's basketball team, seeded No. 3 in the NESCAC, faced No. 2 seed Bates College on Saturday afternoon in the NESCAC semifinals hosted at Bowdoin College. In a hard-fought game that featured multiple momentum swings, the Mammoths battled throughout but ultimately fell 80–68, bringing their season to a close. Amherst finishes the year with an 18–8 overall record.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Bates opened the game on a 7–0 run, but Amherst quickly found their rhythm midway through the first quarter. The Mammoths tightened up defensively and evened the score at 15–15 with just under four minutes remaining in the quarter. A late push allowed Amherst to seize momentum and enter the second quarter ahead 24–19.

• Amherst carried that energy into the second quarter, stretching their lead to eight within the first three minutes. Bates then responded with a steady run of their own, trimming the deficit and tying the game at 38–38 with two minutes left before halftime. The Mammoths regained a slight edge in the closing moments, heading into the break with a 43–40 advantage.

• The third quarter featured continued back-and-forth action, with both teams trading baskets. Late in the quarter, Bates put together a decisive run to gain separation and entered the fourth quarter ahead 62–56.

• Amherst battled in the final quarter and worked to cut into the deficit, but Bates maintained control in the closing minutes and secured the 80–68 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Both Elizabeth Cain and Annie McCarthy led the Mammoths with 14 points each, followed by Reagan Pahl with 12 points.

• Amherst applied aggressive defensive pressure throughout the game, recording 10 steals compared to Bates' 3.

• Overall, the Mammoths shot 37.1% from the field, 27.3% from three-point range, and 69.6% from the free-throw line.