Wesleyan Beats Eagles in Tournament Finals

(Wesleyan Tournament Results - Day 2)

Middletown, Conn. - Host Wesleyan stretched a 20-13 lead midway through the first half into a 35-18 halftime advantage over St. Joseph's (LI) in the title game of the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament and went on to claim a 66-43 victory for the crown. Junior Amber Wessells, who led Wesleyan from her point guard position, was named MVP. She had five points, three assists and two steals today. Her 14 points paced the Cardinals in their first-round game.

By the 10:00 mark of the second half, Wesleyan held its largest lead at 33 points with a 54-21 bulge before the Golden Eagles outscored the Cardinals by 10 in the closing quarter of the contest to make the final margin 23 in the second-ever meeting of the teams. Wesleyan also captured the first game between the teams, played in 2008, by a nearly identical 25-point margin, 71-46.

Sophomore Miller Hartsoe, named to the all-tournament team, had a team-leading double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Wesleyan. Junior KellyAnn Rooney chipped in with 12 points and sophomore Dreisen Heath added 10 points for the Cardinals. Kaylie Williams was strong on the boards with nine caroms.

St. Joseph's had two all-tournament picks in senior Amanda Bender, who had 13 points and four rebounds today after posting 26 points and 14 rebounds in the Golden Eagles first-round victory. Also on the all-tournament squad was junior Laura Cohen, who had six points and two rebounds today after collecting 20 points yesterday.

In the consolation game, Johnson & Wales overcame an 11-2 deficit eight minutes into the game but still trailed 24-21 at halftime. Then with 15 minutes remaining and Mitchell clinging to a 32-21 edge, the Wildcats scored 13 straight points, led by sophomore Natalie DiCocco and senior Marina Millian, both with four points, for a 44-32 lead with 11 minutes left. The onslaught continued as JWU closed out the game on a 29-12 tear for a 73-44 triumph.

Millian finished with a team-leading 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double while junior Jenna Juron, named all-tournament, contributed 16 points. DiCocco added 11 and junior Justine Hughes had 10 points and six rebounds.

All-tournament choice senior Kaylee Cerruto led Mitchell for the second straight day, picking up 15 points. Freshman Amanda Garcia scored 13 points for the Mariners and had a game-high 16 rebounds for a double-double.

(Recap courtesy of Wesleyan Sports Information)