Women’s basketball was victorious in both of its games last weekend, winning 60-51 against Amherst on Saturday and 63-47 against Trinity on Sunday.
These senior weekend triumphs bring Bowdoin’s win streak to 16 games and their overall record to 19-2 (7-0 NESCAC). In Saturday’s game against then No. 6 Amherst (17-2 overall, 4-2 NESCAC), the Polar Bears gave the Lady Jeffs their second loss of the year, dropping them four ranks and improved their own ranking to No. 21.
“We don’t really focus on those polls,” said Head Coach Adrienne Shibles. “They get [fired] up for every opponent, but there was an added incentive to really perform well against Amherst.”
The crowd at Morrell Gymnasium was massive, with many fans in attendance to support the team’s three seniors, Sara Binkhorst, Megan Phelps, and Siena Mitman. The sizable audience added intensity to the fast-paced and heated games.
“It just motivated us all,” said Binkhorst. “The underclassmen played really well and [Shibles] framed it as honoring your seniors. Me, Megan and Siena all were really fired up for the games, and wanted to remember our senior weekend as getting two wins.”
After Amherst jumped out the gate to a 4-0 lead, the Polar Bears quickly recovered with a 10-0 run of their own, giving them a lead they would maintain for the remainder of the game. Lauren Petit ’18 scored a three-pointer to give the Polar Bears a 33-22 lead at the half.
Shannon Brady ’16 scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Phelps added nine points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Jeffs never came closer than eight points to Bowdoin’s lead, and spent most of the second half 10 points behind the Polar Bears. The score held at 51-41 in the last six minutes, and 56-46 in the last three.
The Polar Bears shot better from the field, sinking 42.9 percent to the Jeffs’ 31 percent. They finished the game strong defensively, ending with a final score of 60-51.
Inclement weather forced Trinity and Bowdoin to play on Sunday instead of Friday, and Bowdoin came out on top for its second consecutive win of the weekend.
The Polar Bears opened the first half slower than they had hoped, allowing Trinity to gain a seven-point lead of 28-21 during the first half.
“We weren’t playing up to our potential for the first bit of the game,” said Binkhorst. “On Sunday, our defensive intensity was not near where it was the day before.”
But Bowdoin fought back with nine points following a three-point er from Ally Silfen ’17. By halftime, the Polar Bears had finally bounced back to a 32-30 lead. Brady led the team once again, this time with 18 points. She was followed by eight points from each Phelps, Binkhorst, and Marle Curle ’17.
“Credit Trinity,” said Shibles. “They played really well in the first half and they finished a lot of their shots. We were better defensively in the second half. And I think the players were more intelligent in taking away what they wanted to get out of their offense.”
Refocused and recharged, Bowdoin triumphed over the Bantams in the second half with a powerful surge of defense and strong shooting on offense. With Brady scoring 14 of her points in the second half, the Polar Bears outshot the Bantams with 37.5 percent shooting from the field compared to their opponent’s 31.1 percent. They also outperformed Trinity on the glass, with a 51-36 lead in rebounds. Bowdoin finished the game with a 13-2 run, winning by a final score of 63-47.
Bowdoin will play at Middlebury on Sunday at 3 p.m.