AMHERST, Mass. – Sophomores Kori Barach and AnLing Vera each scored 14 points to lead the Amherst College women's basketball team in a 52-48 win over Bates College in NESCAC action on Saturday afternoon at LeFrak Gymnasium.

The Mammoths, ranked 21st in the nation in the latest D3hoops.com poll and 16th in the WBCA poll, improved to 12-4 overall and 2-2 in NESCAC play with the win. The defending NESCAC champion Bobcats fell to 7-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play after this rematch of  last year's NESCAC championship game.

The Mammoths return to action on Wednesday (Jan. 18), hosting archrival Williams at 7 p.m. Amherst can clinch the Little Three Championship with a win over the Ephs.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* After the game was tied at 4-4 in the opening minutes, the Mammoths went on a 10-0 run over the rest of the first quarter and held the Bobcats to 1-of-20 field-goal shooting in the first quarter.

* Vera completed a layup on the fast break with 6:35 to go in the second quarter to put the Mammoths up, 22-9, their largest lead of the game. Amherst took a 31-22 lead into halftime.

* A second-chance basket from sophomore forward Alix Stuart gave the Mammoths a 42-32 lead with 7:22 to play in the fourth quarter, but the Bobcats followed with an 8-0 run to get back within two with six of those points coming from senior guard Meghan Graff.

* A traditional three-point play converted by sophomore forward Maya Cwalina put the Mammoths back up by five before the Bobcats scored back-to-back baskets from first-years Elsa Daulerio and Sophie Spolter cut the Amherst lead to one with 1:43 to play.

* The Mammoths successfully defended the next two Bates possessions and once the Bobcats were forced to send the Mammoths to the line in the final 30 seconds, Amherst hit five of its last six free throws to secure the victory.



BY THE NUMBERS:

* The Mammoths had their worst field-goal shooting game of the season, shooting 31 percent (16-of-52) from the floor, but held the Bobcats to just 25 percent (18-of-73) shooting. Each side only made two three-pointers in the game as Amherst shot 14 percent (2-of-14) and Bates went 15 percent (2-of-13) from deep.

* Graff led the Bobcats with a game-high 18 points, while Spolter and junior guard Morgan Kennedy each added 10 points.

* Senior forward Jenna Berens grabbed 11 rebounds for the Bobcats as Bates held a 48-46 edge on the boards.

* Stuart tallied nine rebounds and three blocks for the Mammoths.