Naismith/Holiday Inn Classic
Springfield 55, Bates 52
at Springfield, Mass.

BATES DROPS FIRST OUT-OF-STATE GAME
Bobcats drop 55-52 decision at Springfield Tournament

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Bates College women's basketball team could not overcome a cold shooting performance in the opening round of Springfield College's Naismith/Holiday Inn Classic, falling to the hosts, 55-52.

The Bobcats (5-2), who entered the game shooting 45 percent from the floor and 43 percent from 3-point range entering the game, hit just 16-of-66 overall (24.2 percent) and seven-of-32 from downtown (21.7 percent). Bates led the nation in 3-point percentage.

Bates opened up strongly, taking a 15-10 lead less than six minutes into the game on a pair of free throws from sophomore Lauren Dubois (Beverly, Mass.). Springfield's defense improved from there as the Pride held Bates to just three field goals the rest of the way. Springfield ended the half on a 16-10 run, taking a one-point lead into the locker room on a bucket by Kristy Murray with 1:40 left in the stanza. Bates kept the game close by forcing 13 Pride turnovers in the first.

A 3-pointer by senior Kate Dockery (New York, N.Y.) in the first minute of the second half gave the Bobcats a 28-26 lead, but the Pride answered with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 35-38 lead they would never relinquish. Bates trailed by as many as 10 in the second half and were down 54-45 with just 2:56 left in the game before rallying. A trifecta from junior Julia Price (Masnfield, Mass.) cut the lead to 54-52 with 29 seconds left. The Bobcats had a chance to win, but junior captain Lisa Golobski (Methuen, Mass.) had a 3-pointer just miss with six seconds left. The Pride hit a final free throw to secure the win.

Dockery led all scorers with 16 points, while Dubois was the only other Bobcat in double figures with 10. She also had four steals. The Bobcats also owned a 17-6 advantage on the offensive boards and a 26-16 turnover margin.

Springfield's Murray and Kelly Thompson led the Pride with 12 points each, while Catherine Proto had a game-high 12 rebounds. Bates awaits the loser of the tournament's second game between Messiah College, the No. 4 team in the nation in the most recent D3hoops.com poll, and College of Staten Island.

Box score available