BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College women's basketball team advanced to the NESCAC Semifinals for the 16th consecutive season with a 73-50 victory over Williams in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament on Saturday at Morrell Gymnasium.

The Polar Bears (20-5), who have advanced to at least the semifinal round in every year of the championship, reach the 20-win plateau for the 14th time in the last 16 seasons. Williams (17-8) suffers their seventh loss in NESCAC Tournament play to the Polar Bears. 

Game Highlights

• Bowdoin jumped to an early lead thanks to consecutive three pointers from Kate Kerrigan and Lauren Petit, 12-4 after five minutes of play
• The Polar Bears extended their lead to nine points after one quarter as Kerrigan hit a running layup before the buzzer to give the hosts a 18-9 edge
• Two more three-pointers from Petit and Kerrigan pushed the lead to 24-9 early in the second quarter
• Bowdoin continued to roll, pushing the lead to as many as 16 points before Williams scored three late points to cut the halftime edge to 38-26
• The Ephs made a bit to get back into the contest early in the third quarter, cutting the Bowdoin lead to six points following a 5-0 surge, 41-35, with 6:18 to go in the frame
• Bowdoin squelched all thoughts of a Williams rally, however, as back-to-back three-pointers from Ally Silfen and Marle Curle built the lead back to a dozen points and sparked a decisive 12-3 run
• The Polar Bears held Williams to just four points as they put the game on ice in the fourth quarter

By The Numbers

• Kate Kerrigan was all over the court for Bowdoin, totaling 15 points, ten rebounds, five steals and two assists
• Shannon Brady and Lauren Petit led the Polar Bears with 16 points each while Curle added 11
• Lauren McCall led all players with 22 points, including six three-pointers, for the Ephs
• Bowdoin connected on 10-17 from three-point range in the victory and held a 44-35 advantage in rebounding
• Williams shot just 31% from the field and committed 18 turnovers, leading directly to 22 Bowdoin points

Up Next

• Bowdoin will play Amherst in the NESCAC Semifinals at Tufts University next Saturday, February 27 at 4:00 p.m. More information will be available next week