BOX SCORE

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - December 31, 2012 - Overcoming a 13-point, first-half deficit, visiting Colby-Sawyer took the lead for good on a pair of sophomore Kelsey Bragdon free throws with 4:10 remaining, 51-50, and got a pair of huge three-pointers from senior Taylor DeSanty over the next minute and a half to pad the margin and go on for a 62-57 women's basketball victory here against Wesleyan in just the second meeting of the squads. 

The only other time the teams faced each other was during a tournament at Springfield Jan. 3, 2010, and Wesleyan came away a 58-47 winner.

The Chargers improve to 6-4, while the Cardinals dip to 6-3. 

While Wesleyan forged a 27-14 advantage in the first half after jumping out to an 8-0 lead, the Chargers patiently whittled the difference to just three points at halftime as the Cardinals held a 33-30 edge at intermission.  Colby-Sawyer took its first lead of the game at the 16:28 mark of the second half when senior Cailin Bullett connected on a trey to give the Chargers a 37-35 lead.  She added another basket 32 seconds later to make it 39-35.  Wesleyan regained the lead briefly at 40-39 on a free throw by freshman Karly Finison (nine points) with 13:30 left and used a combined 13-3 run over a span of six minutes to turn the 39-35 deficit into a 48-42 lead with 9:43 on the clock. 

The next eight minutes belonged to the Chargers as they outpointed the Cardinals, 16-5, for a 58-53 lead with 1:00 to go.  Four free throws by Bullett in the last minute sealed the victory.  Prior to hitting her two treys in the closing moments, DeSanty, who led all scorers with 14 points, had missed her initial seven tries from behind the arc, but made them when they were most needed.  The Chargers were just 6-for-27 from long range.  Wesleyan made six of its 21 three-point attempts, three by freshman Jackie Browne, who finished with 11 points.  Wesleyan was led by senior Kendra Harris with 12 points.  Sophomore Jess Cherenza grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds for Wesleyan as the Cardinals held a 54-42 edge on the board but Colby-Sawyer did a better job of taking care of the ball, committing just nine turnovers while Wesleyan lost the ball 19 times.  Junior Ashley Fruzzetti and sophomore Kelsey Cahill both had four steals for the Chargers.  Cahill and Bullett both contributed 13 points for the winners.  Cahill also had eight caroms, tied for the team lead with junior Mari Meserve.

The Chargers improve to 6-0 on the season when holding the opponent to less than 30% shooting. 

Colby-Sawyer, with a 4-0 record in the NAC, returns to conference play in its next outing, hosting Maine Maritime Fri., Jan. 4.  Wesleyan also will be in conference action Friday for its next game, hosting undefeated Amherst, ranked seventh nationally in the latest WBCA Division III poll.

--Release courtesy of Wesleyan Sports Info