MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team posted a stifling defensive effort to suffocate Wesleyan, 74-35, on Friday night at Silloway Gymnasium.

The Polar Bears improve to 18-5 (7-2 NESCAC) with their sixth consecutive win, clinching a home quarterfinal game for the NESCAC Tournament. The Cardinals fall to 7-14 (1-8 NESCAC).

Game Highlights

• After both teams struggled in the early going, Bowdoin came alive and held Wesleyan scoreless over the final few minutes to take an 11-5 lead after one period
• In the second, Wesleyan stayed within striking distance until late when a 8-1 Bowdoin spurt, capped by a Kate Kerrigan three-pointer at the buzzer, gave the Polar Bears a 33-20 lead at intermission
• The Cardinals wouldn't go away in the third period, closing the gap to eight points, 37-29, midway through the frame
• Bowdoin held Wesleyan scoreless for the final 5:25 of the quarter and into the fourth period, however, rolling off a 18 consecutive points to put the contest out of reach

By The Numbers

• Bowdoin finished 48%  shooting for the contest and held Wesleyan to 22%, forcing 25 turnovers
• The Polar Bears held an astounding 27-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the victory and out-rebounded the Cardinals 39-30
• Bowdoin's bench totaled 40 points on the night compared to nine for Wesleyan
• Shannon Brady led all players with 16 points while grabbing five rebounds
• Hannah Graham pitched in 11 points off the bench for Bowdoin while Ally Silfen and Abigail Kelly each added nine
• Kate Kerrigan had seven points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals in the victory
• No Cardinal player scored in double figures

Up Next

• In what essentially serves as a playoff for the number three seed in the NESCAC Tournament, Bowdoin will travel to play at Connecticut College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.