BABSON PARK, Mass. – Senior captains Gabrielle Zaffiro and Dani Valdez each scored 12 points to lead the Amherst College women's basketball team to a 58-41 win at Babson College on Tuesday night at Staake Gymnasium. The game was tied at halftime before the Mammoths pulled away in the second to improve to 9-0 in non-conference games this season.

The Mammoths (11-2), ranked 11th in the nation in both the D3hoops poll and WBCA coaches poll, won their eighth straight game against the Beavers (11-5), a streak that dates back to 2009.

Amherst is back in action on Friday (Jan. 28) at 7 p.m., hosting Little Three rival Wesleyan for a NESCAC clash.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

* Valdez scored three straight baskets in the first quarter and senior captain Courtney Resch rolled in a layup to make it 10-7 after the first quarter.

* After first-year guard AnLing Vera hit a deep three early in the second, the Beavers scored eight straight points to take a 17-13 lead. Another Vera three tied the game at 18-18 and first-year Kori Barach scored back-to-back baskets before the Beavers answered to send the game into halftime tied at 22-22.

* The Mammoths made their move in the third quarter, going on an 8-0 run bookended by three-pointers from Resch and Vera to break a tie and take a 34-26 lead. Back-to-back threes from Resch gave the Mammoths a 12-point lead at the end of the third.

* A 10-0 run spanned between the third and fourth quarters to give the Mammoths a 46-30 lead and a layup from senior captain Jade DuVal in the final minute accounted for the final 17-point margin.



BY THE NUMBERS

* Valdez grabbed 10 rebounds to go with her 12 points for her third double-double in the last four games.

* Resch tallied 11 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks on a season-best 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Vera added 9 points and 6 assists.

* The Mammoths shot 38 percent (22-of-57) from the field and 42 percent (6-of-14) from beyond the arc. Amherst was perfect from the free throw line for the first time this season, going 8-of-8 as Zaffiro, Valdez and sophomore guard Reeya Patel each hit every free throw. Amherst held the Beavers to a season-low 25 percent (14-of-57) shooting from the floor and 20 percent (2-of-10) from beyond the arc.