Roser’s Double-Double Elevates Women’s Basketball To Victory

AURORA, N.Y. – Sparked by the 75th career double-double by senior Ashley Roser (Taberg, N.Y.), the Wells College women's basketball team locked up a 67-54 victory over the Bison of Gallaudet University on Saturday within the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing. The Express have won six of their last eight games and improve to 11-7 overall on the year and to 6-3 within the North Eastern Athletic Conference. Gallaudet falls to 8-10 overall on the season and to 5-4 within league play.

Roser tallied her 56th collegiate double-double against a NEAC opponent with 23 total points alongside 18 rebounds, leading both teams in each category. She also assisted five Wells baskets and posted four blocks and three steals, all team-leading categories. Sophomore Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) notched a season-high 10 points in the contest, converting 7-of-9 foul shots for Wells. Junior Kaitlynne Knapp (Port Byron, N.Y.) racked up 12 rebounds and eight total points, narrowly missing a double-double of her own.

After six ties through the 10 minute mark of the first half, Gallaudet posted a six point lead (20-14) with 5:58 left in the stanza following a Danielle Warren layup with 5:58 left in the half. A turning point for the Express came just over 30 seconds later as a technical foul was called on Warren, sending Erkson to the line to convert both foul shots to cut the deficit to four. Wells eventually captured the lead following back-to-back foul shot conversions by Roser with 21 seconds left in the first, lifting Wells to a 27-26 halftime advantage.

Elena Ciccarelli game Gallaudet a 39-37 lead with 13:20 remaining in regulation time, but 10-straight points by Roser and the Express secured the victory for Wells in the second half. In total, Roser scored 10 points in only 2:42 to grant the Express a 47-39 lead, an eight point spread. After a Lindsay Stergio layup, Wells went on an eight point run to capture a 55-41 lead. From the 12 minute mark to the seven minute mark, Wells outscored Gallaudet by an 18-to-2 margin through 5:33.

Gallaudet was led by Lane Peters' 13 total points, 15 rebounds and four steals. Warren notched 12 points and a team-leading five assists. Stephanie Weiss and Stergio each totaled 11 points as the latter also pulled down as many rebounds.

Wells, off to their best start in program history after racking up 11 victories within their first 18 games of the season, returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 4 as they face-off against the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill at 7:00 p.m. on the road.