CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Sophomore guard Ashley Conway (Danvers, Mass.) scored a team-high 14 points while classmate Jordan Biggar (Beverly, Mass.) chipped in with 13 to help pace the Wentworth women's basketball team to its second straight win, a 61-56 triumph at Pine Manor College
The host Gators came out of the gate building a seven-point lead (10-3) in the early going as sophomore forward Tia Nelson (Rockport, Mass.) would drain a pair of three pointers. The Leopards would go on a 23-5 run over the 12 minutes to take an 11-point lead on a senior forward Kirsten Vallone (Avon, N.Y.) basket with 5:43 to play.
Pine Manor scored the next nine points to whittle the lead down to a pair at 26-24 with 2:35 left and would trail, 28-26, at the break.
A Biggar layup to open the second half extended the lead to four, but the Gators used a 12-3 run over the next two and a half minutes to take a 38-33 lead after a senior guard Enjolee Phillips (Hartford, Conn.) basket. Wentworth responded with a 12-2 run and took a 45-40 lead after Vallone hit back-to-back shots.
The game would see-saw back and forth until a free throw by freshman forward Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) gave Wentworth the lead for good by hitting one of two free throws with 7:57 left.
In addition to her 14 points, Conway had four assists and three steals in the win, with Vallone recording a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds). Junior Meagan Pennock (Littleton, N.H.) had five assists and four steals.
Phillips led all scorers with 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting, while Nelson also recorded double digits with 10 points.
With the win Wentworth improves to 4-2 and is at Mount Ida on Saturday. Pine Manor falls to 1-2 and hosts Gordon on Saturday.
