Box Score AMHERST, Mass. – Megan Robertson '15 scored 14 points, recorded eight rebounds, blocked six shots and dished out two assists in her final regular-season home game of her career as she helped lead the No. 10/11 Amherst College women's basketball team to a 61-33 win over Middlebury College Sunday at LeFrak Gymnasium.
With the win on Senior Day, the Jeffs extend their consecutive home winning streak to 109 games as they improve to 21-2 overall and 8-2 in the NESCAC. Following the loss, the Panthers fall to 11-13 on the year and 3-7 in league play.
Robertson led all scorers with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting as she moved into 11th on the Jeffs' all-time scoring list, and her eight rebounds and six blocks were also game-highs. Joining her in double-figures was Ali Doswell '17 with 12 points as she went 5-of-9 from the floor and pulled in five boards. Jaimie Renner '17 and Meredith Doswell '17 each dished out four assists.
Middlebury was led by Sarah Kaufman with a team-high 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting. She was the lone Panther in double-digits. Kaufman and Alexi Coolidge each recorded six rebounds to lead the team, while Elizabeth Knox registered two assists.
The first half was very competitive throughout all 20 minutes and featured three lead changes and one tie. Amherst's seniors came out strong to start the game as Robertson scored the first four Jeff points before Taylor Smith '15 hit one from downtown at the 15:45 mark to give the home team a 7-5 advantage.
Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net during the halfway point of the first period and registered just one point combined during a five-minute stretch. With 5:42 to play before the break, Rachel Crews hit one from beyond the arc to cut the deficit to three, 16-13. However, Ali Doswell scored seven straight points in the closing minutes and helped give Amherst a 25-19 lead at halftime. Robertson controlled the post for the majority of the first 20 minutes Sunday nearly recorded a double-double in the first half with 12 of her 14 points, all eight boards and added three blocks.
The second half was a different story as the home team outscored Middlebury 7-1 in the first 1:41 of play to take its first double-digit lead of the game as they never looked back. After a three-pointer by Crews at the 12:25 mark cut the deficit to 11, Amherst scored 17 unanswered points over the next roughly seven minutes to put the game out of reach.
As a team, the Purple & White shot 47.1% (24-51) from the floor, 33.3% (9-27) from downtown and 44.4% (4-9) from the foul line, while holding Middlebury to just 22.0% (13-59) shooting, 23.1% (3-13) from beyond the arc and 50.0% (4-8) from the charity stripe. Amherst held a 42-37 rebounding edge and a commanding 18-4 advantage in assists. Both teams turned the ball over 13 times and recorded six steals each. The Jeffs also recorded 11 total blocks, while the Panthers registered one.
Amherst returns to the court Tuesday, Feb. 17 and will head to Wesleyan for a non-conference make-up game scheduled for 7 p.m. The Jeffs have also secured the No. 3 seed in the 2015 NESCAC Championships and will host No. 6 Colby Saturday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.