The Husson men’s and women’s basketball teams got tough draws in their first round matchups in the NCAA Division III basketball championships on Friday night. Both teams were facing national powers, as the women went to #6 Amherst, and the men to #19 Williams College.
In the women’s game at Lafrak Gynasium in Amherst, Mass, the Husson Eagles got into a big deficit early that they were unable to overcome in a 66-45 loss to the Amherst Mammoths.
Husson only shot 25 percent from the floor and committed 17 turnovers in the loss. The turnovers were turned into a 23-6 points advantage for Amherst (24-3). The two time defending national champions rolled the Eagles jumping out to an 11 point lead after one quarter, and a 20 point lead at the halftime break. A 3-2 lead in the opening two minutes is the one and only lead Husson had in the loss. The hosts led by as many as 30 in the fourth quarter, before the Eagles made it a bit more respectful in the end by outscoring the Mammoths 11-4 in the final quarter.
Kenzie Worcester had an incredible career and senior season for Husson, doing it again Friday in her last game with 26 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Megan Peach was the only other Eagles player in double figures recording a double double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Husson finishes at 19-9. Hannah Fox filled up the stat sheet for Amherst, with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks. Madeline Eck added 14 points and four rebounds. The Mammoths stay at home and face SUNY-Geneseo (24-4) in a second round game Saturday at 6 pm.
At Chandler Gym in Williamstown, Mass, the home Williams College Ephs used a big second half to surge past the NAC Champion Husson Eagles 86-60.
Husson kept it very close in the first half. The Eagles took one early lead then trailed the Ephs by as many as eight, but only trailed 31-25 at the halftime break. A very balanced scoring effort helped keep Husson in the game, led by five points from DJ Bussey, and four each from Bruce St. Peter, Justin Thompson, and Corey Kaiser.
Williams then exploded in the second half. Up seven points with 18 minutes to play, the Ephs broke it open. A 17-4 run over the course of just under five minutes increased the Williams lead to 54-34. The visiting Eagles never got closer than 17, and the Ephs led by as many as 32 to advance to a second round home playoff game on Saturday.
Bussey finished as the only Husson player in double figures with 13. St. Peter had eight points and four rebounds. Justice Kendall and Martin had seven points a piece, with Kendall adding four steals and Martin grabbing six rebounds in his final game at Husson. Kyanti Blyden, the other Eagles senior, played 14 minutes in his college finale scoring just two points on 1-3 shooting from the floor and 0-4 from the foul line. Kaiser and Dylan Angel both had six off the bench, as the Eagles finish their season at 17-11. Four of the five starters had double figures for Williams, led by James Heskett with 19 points. Matt Karpowicz had 17, Bobby Casey 16, and Kyle Skadlock with 12. The Ephs shot 52 percent for the game from the floor, compared to just 32 for the Eagles. Williams is now 21-6, and will host Gwynedd Mercy (20-8) at 7 pm Saturday in the second round.
