AMHERST, Mass. -- Sophomore Maya Cwalina posted a double-double Wednesday night and junior Reeya Patel added a team-high 16 points as the Amherst College women's basketball team defeated rival Williams College, 50-40, in LeFrak Gymnasium. 

The win allowed the Mammoths to claim the 2022-23 Little 3 championship -- the eighth consecutive outright Little 3 championship and 23rd overall. Amherst is now 13-4 on the season while Williams fell to 12-6. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* The Mammoths had a tough first quarter, turning the ball over 10 times in those 10 minutes while falling behind 8-2. But a string of three straight field goals at the end of the quarter, one each from Cwalina, Kori Barach, and Alix Stuart, had them down only two points, 10-8, by quarter's end

* The second quarter was a different story. Amherst had just one turnover in the 10 minutes preceding the half. A Cwalina jumper off an assist from Patel tied the game 10-10 only 42 seconds into the quarter. The Mammoth's first lead came with 8:41 left when Barach converted a lay-up opportunity. Another Stuart regained the lead for Amherst at 14-12. It was 14-14 moments later, but the Mammoth's defensive effort and increased offensive efficiency helped them go on an 11-2 run to close the half. After opening the game 1 for 8 from the floor, the Mammoths went 7 for 15 from the floor in the second stanza while holding Williams to just under 12 percent (2 of 17) from the floor in the same time frame. 

* The Mammoths came out and held Williams to zero points for the first 7:59 of the third quarter, increasing their lead from nine to 16 points in that span. The Ephs went o for 13 from the floor during that run. Stuart had 4 of her 8 blocks to help the Amherst cause. Amherst's largest lead came following a steal and assist from Anna Tranum that led to AnLing Vera's fastbreak lay-up. Thirty seconds later, Vera made one of two free throws for a 32-16 lead with 4:22 remaining. 

* Williams crept back into the game, but Patel scored 7 of her 16 points in the first four minutes of the final quarter, including a three-pointer with six minutes remaining that made it 43-30 Amherst. The Ephs got back within eight and then seven with 47 seconds to go, but Anna Tranum made 3 of 4 free throw attempts late to help keep the visitors at bay. 



BY THE NUMBERS: 

*  Williams shot just 19.2 percent (14 of 73)  from the floor in the game and 2 of 19 (10.5 percent) from beyond the arc. At one point from the end of the second quarter to 2:01 remaining in the third, they went 1 for 17. 

* Stuart finished with 6 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 blocks, the latter two team-leading figures. Barach finished with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists. Anna Tranum finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Cwalina had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block. Vera had four points, 3 rebounds, and an assist.