FOUR SCORE IN DOUBLE FIGURES, EXPRESS TOP WILSON

AURORA, N.Y. – Four different players scored in double figures to lead the Wells College women's basketball team to a 76-27 victory over the Wilson College Phoenix Thursday afternoon in Aurora. With the victory the Express improve to 7-15 (5-9 NEAC) while the Phoenix fall to 2-16 (2-11 NEAC).

Jessilyn Aki (Kappaa, Hawaii) and Kelli Furney (Camden, N.Y.) each scored career highs of 20 points to pace the Express. Aki finished 8-17 from the floor to go along with eight steals and three assists. Furney finished an impressive 9-11 from the field to go along with four rebounds and three steals. Jordan Peterson (Hamilton, N.Y.) added 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven steals and Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds to round out the top scorers for Wells.

The Express jumped out to an early 7-0 lead but a 9-0 run by Wilson gave the Phoenix a two point lead (9-7) at 12:57 of the first half. The Express battle back to tie the game at 13-13 with 9:58 to play and never looked back.

Peterson earned a three point play the hard way and buckets by Aki, Roser, and Allison Pine (Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y.) pushed Wells to a 13-0 run and a 26-13 lead. Two free-throws by Wilson cut the lead to 11, but the Express defense continued to wreak havoc on the Phoenix offense, holding Wilson scoreless over the final 5:26, forcing six turnovers while using a strong transition game to rattle off their second 13-0 run to close out the half up by a commanding 24 points (39-15).

Wells continued to impress in the second half, forcing 21 turnovers on 12 steals while holding Wilson to just 12 points the entire half en route to the 49 point victory.

Tara Fields (Berryville, Va.) led Wilson with 13 points while Vanessa Whitfield (Chambersburg, Pa.) chipped in with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Overall, the Express forced 38 turnovers, finished with a season high 22 steals while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, including scoring 50 points off the turnover.

The Express return to the hardwood on Saturday when they welcome NEAC opponent SUNY Cobleskill to campus for a 3 p.m. tip-off in Aurora.