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University of Rochester Athletics

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER YELLOWJACKETS
Kellie Macdonald (Williams)

Williams Beats Scranton in NCAA 1st Round

3/1/2013 10:49:00 PM

Box Score

Claire Baecher scored 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked four shots to lead Williams College to a 79-59 victory over the University of Scranton in the first round of the NCAA Division III women's basketball playoffs at the University of Rochester.
 
Ellen Cook added 19 points, including five three-pointers for the Ephs (23-5). Jennie Harding scored 14 points and Kellie MacDonald scored 10.  Williams will play the University of Rochester in the second round at 5 pm Saturday evening. Rochester defeated Emmanuel, 70-66, in the second game.
 
Meredith Mesaris led Scranton with 17 points. Allison Sweeney hit a pair of three-points and scored 10 for the Lady Royals. Scranton finished its season at 19-9.
 
It was a sweet victory for Williams in the Palestra. Two years ago, the Ephs lost in the first round when Muhlenberg College hit a gamewinning three-pointer in the final seconds.
 
“We have six seniors,” said Williams coach Pat Manning. “The first win they ever got as a class was against Oneonta State in this gym two years ago. They felt very disappointed two years ago. Tonight, they became the winningest class in Williams history – and it happened on this floor.”
 
Scranton opened quickly, jumping to a 10-point lead after 11 minutes (21-11). Williams nibbled it down to five, 23-18, before Lindsay Fluehr drove for a layup and a 25-18 lead with 4:48 to play. The Ephs finished the half on a 16-3 burst. Baecher scored six of the 16. MacDonald had four. Williams led, 34-28, at the half.
 
Layups by Mesaris and Sweeney early in the second half pulled Scranton within 38-36 in the first three minutes. Cook sank three three-pointers in the next two minutes as Williams began to pull away, 50-36, with 13:36 left.
 
“The run Williams had at the end of the first half killed us,” said Scranton coach Mike Strong. “We were doing pretty well, then we were taking too quick of a shot. We let Williams run out on us and we were playing catchup.”
 
Williams focused on stopping Scranton's inside game. Mesaris had 17 while Erin Boggan scored just six points. “Coach brought us in to look at their posts on offense and to stop their post game,” Baecher said.