Volume CXXXIII, Number 17 February 22, 2002 f

Women's basketball hosts NESCACs
JENNIFER LARAIA
STAFF WRITER

What an amazing season! The Bowdoin Women's Basketball Team finished the regular season with a record of 22-1. Bowdoin defeated conference rivals Amherst and Trinity last weekend, 72 to 53 and 82 to 50, respectively. Losing only to Bates College, the Lady Polar Bears have earned the top seed in the NESCAC tournament as well as the privilege of hosting the event. While their top NESCAC ranking is impressive, more importantly, Bowdoin is ranked third in the most recent NCAA Division III poll.

Bowdoin women took on Amherst College last Friday night, taking an easy 72-53 victory. (Karsten Moran, Bowdoin Orient)

On Friday night, Bowdoin went out to a slow start against Amherst, and led by only a point at the half. However, the Polar Bears fared better in the second half, pulling away to lead 72 to 53 by the game's end. Kristi Royer '03 was the top scorer of the day, netting twenty points; Lora Trenkle '04 added sixteen points, while Jessie Mayol '02 also hit double-figures, scoring eleven. Erika Nickerson '05 contributed eight points to the offensive charge, while Lindsay Bramwell '04 chipped in seven; Kristin Fugate '04 and Courtney Trotta '04 added six and three points, respectively. Royer dominated on defense as well, grabbing twelve rebounds on the night.
The face-off against Trinity Saturday night not only marked the end of the regular season, but also marked Mayol's last home regular-season game.

Mayol, who has played in more games than any Bowdoin women's basketball player before her, will be sorely missed next year, as the guard is a steady point-contributor and leader on the court. In this game, Mayol scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, and made eight assists. Royer led the way in scoring, earning 15 points, while Trenkle netted 14. Bramwell and Fugate added nine apiece, and Nickerson scored a solid eight points. Jess Reuben '03 contributed six points; Alison Smith '05 and Corinne Pellegrini '03 each scored four, and Trotta connected with a three-pointer to put herself in the scorebook.

In NESCAC tournament action thus far, Williams defeated Colby 63 to 60, Middlebury won against Wesleyan 67 to 40, and Bates was victorious over Trinity 77 to 59. Bowdoin is exempt from first-round play in the tournament, and will play in the first semifinal game against Williams on Saturday at 2:00. The second semi-final game (Middlebury vs. Bates) will be held at 4:00p.m. on Saturday, and the final game will take place on Sunday at noon. Student admission is two dollars for each day.