Chapin's 23 points, six steals leads women's hoops past Babson, 57-43

BABSON PARK, Mass. (taken from a Babson College press release) – Sophomore guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y.) led all players with 23 points and six steals - both career-highs - as she propelled the visiting Brandeis University Judges to a 57-45 victory over the Babson College Beavers in a non-conference women’s basketball matchup at Staake Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Brandeis improved to 4-2 on the year, while the Beavers slipped to 1-5.

Babson led 18-15 after a jumper by first-year Amanda Grammel (Leominster, Mass.) with 7:24 left in the first half, but Chapin spearheaded a 12-1 run over the next three minutes to give Brandeis a 27-19 advantage. The second-year guard dominated at both ends during the spurt, recording 10 points, three steals, a rebound, and an assist, including three consecutive steals that led to five straight points at the end of the barrage. Babson senior co-captain Caitlin Boulier (Wolcott, Conn.) finally halted the run with a three-pointer that made it a five-point game, and the Beavers eventually went into the locker room trailing the Judges, 29-24.

Babson still trailed by five, 37-32, after a Caitlin Fenn (Niantic, Conn.) jumper five minutes into the second half, but Chapin knocked down a three to park a 12-0 run that effectively put the game away. Chapin and junior forward Lauren Orlando (Peabody, Mass.) combined for all 12 of the Judges’ points during the decisive stretch, with Orlando netting seven and Chapin tossing in five. The Beavers would get back to within single digits when senior co-captain Nicole McManus (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) sank a jumper to make it 51-43 with three minutes left, but senior Kiersten Holgash (Easton, Pa.) knocked down all four of her free throws in the final two minutes and Orlando added a layup as the Judges came away with the 57-45 victory.

Chapin hit five of seven from long range for her game-high 23 points to go along with six steals, five of which came in the first half. After missing most of the first half with foul trouble, Orlando came back strong in the second, scoring all 15 of her points in the period. Junior Cassidy Dadaos (Healdsburg, Calif.) chipped in with nine points in the victory, while Holgash recorded seven rebounds and seven assists. First-year Amber Strodthoff (DePere, Wisc.) led all players with nine rebounds for Brandeis, which held a commanding 46-32 advantage on the boards, including 16 caroms off the offensive glass.

Babson was led by Boulier, who scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Fenn, who added 10 points and five boards. Grammel and senior Linsey Poulson (Leominster, Mass.) each finished with six points and five rebounds for the Beavers, who shot just 29.6 percent in the second half.