BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team pulled away in the second half to defeat Bates, 65-48, on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Morrell Gymnasium.

The Polar Bears improve to 3-1 with the victory while the Bobcats fall to 3-2.

Bowdoin's Megan Phelps scored 15 points to lead all players while Shannon Brady added 10 points, four rebounds and three blocks for the Polar Bears. Sara Binkhorst had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Kate Kerrigan added eight points, three assists, two blocks and two steals in the victory.

Chelsea Nason led three Bates players in double figures with 14 points. Allie Coppola added 10 points and 13 rebounds while Molly Brown also had 10 points for the Bobcats.

Bowdoin led 31-25 at halftime but the Bobcats closed the gap to 38-34 follow a lay-in by Brown with 17:16 to go. Bowdoin called time out and clamped down defensively, holding the Bobcats scoreless for over ten minutes until a pair of Nason free throws with 6:11 to go. Meanwhile, the Bowdoin offense kicked into gear, as Phelps scored eight points in a decisive 19-0 Polar Bear run that extended the lead to 57-34 with 6:11 remaining.

Bowdoin held Bates to 26.6% shooting for the game and 15.2% (5-33) from three-point range. Bowdoin held a slim 45-44 edge in rebound and forced 21 Bates turnovers. Bowdoin dominated the paint, scoring 38 points from inside.

Bowdoin will return to action on Tuesday evening at the University of New England (5:30 p.m.). Bates will play on Monday night at Maine Machias (6:00 p.m.). Bates and Bowdoin will play their NESCAC conference game in Lewiston on February 13.