BOX SCORE

BRUNSWICK, Maine - Behind a career-high 21 points from rookie Jill Henrikson, the Bowdoin College women's basketball team defeated Colby 71-61 on Saturday. The Polar Bears (4-2) outscored the Mules (5-2) 13-2 over the final four minutes of the game to claim their 17th consecutive win over their Waterville rivals dating back to 2001. 

Bowdoin held a slim 30-28 lead at halftime but Colby came out firing in the second period. The Mules tied the game on a jumper by Julianne Kowalski and took a six-point advantage following consecutive three-pointers from Sam Allen and Allison Cappelloni. A 6-0 Bowdoin spurt tied the game nearly five minutes later as Leah Rubega laid one off glass to deadlock the score at 40 apiece with 13:50 remaining.

 Colby took the lead on a running jumper by Cappelloni on their next possession and did not trail again until under 5:30 to play. Down 57-54, Bowdoin's Henrikson netted a jump shot and Colleen Sweeney nailed a pair of free throws to give the Polar Bears their first lead since halftime, 58-57, with 4:40 to go.

Kowalski connected on a jumper with 4:00 remaining to briefly give the Mules the lead, but Colby would connect on just one of their final nine shots. Meanwhile, a put-back by Rubega with 3:00 left gave Bowdoin the lead for good, 60-59. Another Rubega offensive rebound pushed the lead to three points and the Polar Bears connected on seven of their final eight free throws to clinch the win.

Bowdoin's bench, behind Henrikson's 21, outscored Colby's 33-13 on the night. Rubega finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds (nine offensive) while Katie Bergeron also posted 12 points for Bowdoin. Colby had four players in double figures, led by Rachael Mack's 18 points and 13 boards. Kowalski, Cappelloni and Aarika Ritchie added 10 points apiece.

Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photograpy.