Women's Basketball Set Back By Carthage, 69-35

Women's Basketball Set Back By Carthage, 69-35

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Nine different players scored at least one point for the Wells College women's basketball team in Saturday's 69-35 loss to Carthage College at the St. Pete Classic, held on the campus of Eckerd College. Following the loss, Wells drops to 2-5 while Carthage moves to 6-3 overall on the year.

Wells, in only their fifth season as a varsity program, competed against two NCAA Division III Tournament teams at the St. Pete Classic. Friday, the Express faced-off against Wisconsin Lutheran who lost to No. 2-ranked Hope in the First Round while Saturday's opponent, Carthage, lost to No. 3-ranked DePauw in the Third Round of last year's NCAA Championship. The Express lost to the eventual NCAA Division III Champions from FDU-Florham in the First Round to conclude their 2013-14 season.

Junior Lindsay Achzet (Johnstown, N.Y.) led Wells in scoring, tallying nine points from the floor. Junior Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.), who eclipsed 500 career points on Friday against Wisconsin Lutheran, registered eight for the Express. Freshman Kamarie Maturine (Brooklyn, N.Y.) pulled down a team-best six rebounds.

The Express struggled out of the gate while the Lady Reds shot a blistering 17-for-31 (54.8%) in the opening 20 minutes. Shooting 6-for-13 from distance, Carthage opened up a 42-9 lead over Wells, who saw a team-high three points from senior Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Kapa'a, Hawaii), who bombed a three-pointer.

Wells closed the gap in the second half and almost outshot the Lady Reds, who still captured the 27-26 scoring advantage following a three-point basket with under 10 seconds to go in regulation time. Trailing by 42 points following an Ashlee Cunningham layup at 8:52, Wells went on a 13-0 scoring run to shrink the deficit in the waning minutes of the contest.

For Carthage, three different players racked up 12 points while Taylor Boardman lived up to her name, registering a team-best six rebounds. Erin Thomas dished out five assists while Kasey Kleiner poured home four three-point baskets in only 16 minutes of action.

Wells returns to action Sunday, Jan. 11 as they host SUNY Canton in a 2 p.m. contest at the Farenthold Athletic Wing.