Amherst has only faced non-conference competition, which has given them the opportunity to gain valuable experience on the court as a new and improving team. Amherst advanced to a 3-3 record this weekend at the Pioneer Valley Classic as the Jeffs came from behind to defeat Springfield College by just two points and also shut down Western New England College by almost 20. The Jeffs are looking to continue their streak through January, when the NESCAC competition starts to heat up.
Amherst started the week with a loss to Keene State College on Tuesday despite an impressive effort. Junior tri-captains guard Shaina Pollack '08 and forward Stefanie Reiff '08 demonstrated strong leadership and determination for the Jeffs in the 70-60 loss. Pollack notched 13 points and Reiff added 15 points as well as seven rebounds.
Sophomore guard Kerry O'Loughlin '09 is one of the most valuable assets for the Jeffs this season. The newcomer is establishing her career at Amherst on a remarkable note; in the loss to Keene State she recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. The Jeffs out-rebounded the Owls, but it wouldn't be until the weekend when their hard work finally paid off.
Amherst illustrated an inspiring amount of determination and perseverance in their intense 57-55 win over Springfield College. Where most teams might have given up, the Jeffs fought even harder. The Jeffs trailed by two points after the first half, but held on and squeezed out a nail-biting two-point victory at the buzzer. "We have had a few other games that were as close as Springfield, with about six minutes left that we were unable to pull out," Reiff reflected. "I think that we have grown as a team from those early losses and we were able to keep our composure and get the job done."
The Springfield Pride had no response for Amherst's initial 10-0 lead until late in the first half. The Jeffs' early domination eased up as the game progressed, allowing Springfield to gain control of the scoreboard. The Jeffs counted on senior tri-captain guard Jenny Muller '07 and O'Loughlin to narrow the score in the end of the first half, as they both drowned three pointers to trail only 29-27 by halftime.
Springfield led the scoring for most of the contest, but Amherst inched closer with each passing minute. According to junior guard Anne-Claire Roesch '08, the Jeffs "clamped down on defense and paralyzed Springfield's offense in the last minutes of the game." It made a game-winning difference.
With less than 20 seconds left on the clock, the Jeffs were down by a single point. Amherst gained possession and Reiff dished the ball to O'Loughlin, who supplied Amherst with a game-winning three-pointer with only six seconds remaining. She totaled 16 points and eight rebounds against Springfield.
Reiff also had another consistent game for Amherst, registering 13 points and four assists. Pollack added four assists as well. First-year guard Samantha Swensen and Jenny Muller '07 rounded out the offense with nine and eight points, respectively. On the defensive end, O'Loughlin, Reiff and Roesch combined for five blocks while the Pride were unable to get a hand on Amherst's rapid-fire shooting.
Amherst's momentum from the exciting win on Friday carried over to Saturday, when the Jeffs sent Western New England College home with a 73-54 loss in their final contest of the Pioneer Valley Classic. The Jeffs improved to 3-3 and denied WNEC the fourth win of its season, holding the Golden Bears to a 3-3 record as well. With authoritative defense and another all-around effort from the entire squad, Amherst doubled WNEC's total assists with 18 and had 14 steals to the Golden Bear's eight. The Jeffs shot an impressive 90 percent from the free throw line, and their defense forced WNEC to a debilitating 25.8 field goal percentage.
Reiff again proved her athleticism, capping off a stellar week on Saturday night. The forward registered 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the victory and was followed by a solid supporting cast. Swensen, the only first-year on the squad, recorded a notable performance for the Jeffs with a team-high seven rebounds as well as 14 points.
O'Loughlin and Pollack also played a big role offensively, notching 11 and 12 points, respectively. Muller added three assists and a trio of steals of her own, while sophomore guard Amanda Otieno '09 grabbed five boards.
The pair of wins signified not only Amherst's growing potential, but also revenge. Amherst lost to Springfield and WNEC last season, but the team's dedication to avenge those losses became a decisive mentality. "Every person on our team really believed we weren't leaving the gym with a loss," Roesch said, "and that attitude pushed us over the hump to win."
The Pioneer Valley Classic was a challenge for the Jeffs, which made their success even sweeter. Reiff and O'Loughlin were both rewarded for their impressive play with All-Tournament Honors. Reiff, after averaging 15 points, four assists, and five rebounds in the two tournament matchups, was named the Pioneer Valley Classic's Most Valuable Player.
NESCAC Notes
Bowdoin College continues to lead the NESCAC with a perfect 6-0 record, though no conference games have been played. Senior Eileen Flaherty was named NESCAC Player of the Week and MVP of the Red Hawk/Pioneer Classic in New Jersey. Williams College follows the Polar Bears with a 5-2 record.