Four Express Score Double Digits In 70-59 Victory Over Gallaudet

AURORA, N.Y. – Four different players reached double digit point totals for the Express as the Wells College women's basketball team secured a 70-59 victory over the Bison of Gallaudet University Sunday afternoon at the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing. The Express have won two straight North Eastern Athletic Conference contests and improve to 5-8 overall on the season and to 4-1 against conference opponents, their best five game mark in program history. Gallaudet falls to 2-12 overall and to 0-7 within NEAC play.

The Express as a team shot a combined 26-for-49 (.531) from the field, the second highest mark all-time in program history. Their program record of 28-of-52 (.538) was set against Penn St.-Harrisburg on Dec. 5, 2010.

The Express and Bison played to a 30-30 tie entering halftime as neither team was able to lead their opponent by more than four points. Gallaudet outscored the Express from the field (14-of-33, 42.4%), but Wells was able to do the majority of their damage from the charity stripe, burying 9-of-11 opportunities to account for nine points. The Express did, however, have a better field goal percentage (43.5%) than their opponent.

Wells outscored the Bison by a combined 40-29 in the second half en route to their fourth conference victory of the year. Despite allowing the first point of the half to Gallaudet, the Express tallied the game's next nine points. During that span, Gallaudet was a combined 0-for-9 from the field and unable to slow the Express rally.

Near the midpoint of the half following a successful Cassie Smythe (Eden, N.Y.) three point attempt, the Bison ran off a quick four points courtesy of layups by Alexa Justus and Claire Tucker. The Express, however, quickly rebuilt their nine point cushion, capped off by a Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) three point basket with 8:47 remaining in regulation.

Junior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.) led the Express with 16 total points via a 6-for-11 performance from the field. Erkson's 15 points ranked her second while her six assists grant her 14 across her previous two games. Both junior Kristen Ryan (Syracuse, N.Y.) and sophomore Jessilyn Artaho-Aki (Kapaa, Hawaii) scored 10 points, with the latter adding five assists to her stat line.
For Gallaudet, Tucker led the way with 21 points, shooting 10-for-27 from the field. Lindsay Stergio collected a double-double, scoring 16 points and scooping up 10 boards. Elena Ciccarelli also added 10 boards for the Bison. Stergio also led the way with five steals.

The Express return to action Wednesday, Jan. 16 as they face-off against the Storm of Keuka College at 6:00 p.m. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).