The women’s basketball team stayed hot this week, beating Colby (12-5, 2-3 NESCAC) last Saturday by a score of 62-57 and improving its record to 17-2 overall (5-0 NESCAC). The team has now reeled off 14 consecutive wins.
The win was Bowdoin’s second against Colby this season after a non-conference triumph in December, but the Polar Bears expected nothing less than a battle from the Mules.
“We always knew that Colby was a very good shooting team,” said Kate Kerrigan ’18. “We just kept saying we need to keep our poise and we need to keep playing our style of basketball—good defense, keep attacking the rim—and eventually we will win this game.”
The teams traded leads until a couple minutes before halftime, when the score was tied 21-21. After a few well timed shots and strong defense, the Polar Bears broke the tie and entered the half with a 28-24 lead.
Shannon Brady ’16 was unstoppable in the second half, when she scored 14 of her 18 points. Marle Curle ’17 racked up 15 points, while Kate Kerrigan ’18 and Sara Binkhorst ’15 scored 12 points each.
Meanwhile, Colby’s offensive leader Carylanne Wolfington scored 18 points, all of which came off of three-pointers. In fact, the Mules totaled 10 three-pointers in the game, which helped them keep up with Bowdoin’s 44 percent shooting from the field.
“It was kind of tough,” said Brady on keeping the Mules from shooting beyond the arc. “Even doing whatever we could to stop them—after that it just came down to making sure we boxed out.”
The score was tied 43-43 with 10 minutes left. After a pair of baskets from Colby, Bowdoin fell behind 48-45.
While Colby kept the game close until the bitter end, the Polar Bears ultimately prevailed with their accurate shooting, hustle and impressive defense. Another notable advantage was Bowdoin’s 22 points scored off turnovers.
“We got some good deflections and steals that created points,” said Head Coach Adrienne Shibles. “There are definitely things to work on defensively, but I do love how much this team loves to play defense. I do agree that our steals are generating points for us.”
In such a close game, Bowdoin focused on maintaining confidence and positivity.
“When we get down we don’t hang our heads at all,” Brady said.
“They really focused and never lost confidence in each other,” Shibles added.
After losing at the University of New England in its fifth game of the season, the Polar Bears beat Salve Regina University by 40 points, beginning the 14-game win streak they are currently riding.
Kerrigan said that despite the team’s success this season, Shibles insists upon a philosophy of perpetual improvement.
“We’re trying to get one percent better each day. We’re trying to push each other in practice to be better,” Kerrigan said.
Bowdoin will host Trinity tonight at 7 p.m. to kick off senior weekend.
“We have tremendous leadership,” Shibles said of the team’s seniors. “All three are captains—all three have given so much to this program.”