Saturday women: Fire away

More news about: Bowdoin | Carthage | Scranton
Feb 08, 2025
She's on fire! Marianna Morrissey and the Carthage Firebirds upset Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon.
Carthage athletics photo by Kayleigh Wieska
 

The Carthage Firebirds spoiled No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan’s bid for an undefeated regular season while No. 3 Scranton stayed perfect with a road win at No. 17 Catholic. Elsewhere, No. 4 Bowdoin comfortably secured the top spot in its conference tournament and No. 8 Gustavus Adolphus avenged its lone loss of the season.

After rallying past Carroll earlier in the week, No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan could not repeat the feat, and Carthage upended the undefeated Titans in Wisconsin, 87-81.

Illinois Wesleyan held a 2-point lead entering the fourth quarter and still led by two following Lauren Huber's three-point play with 4:19 left. Carthage forward Marianna Morrissey immediately answered with a three-point play for the Firebirds and Malia Green hit a three-pointer that keyed a 9-1 Carthage run. The Firebirds made enough free throws and defensive stops in the final minute to hold the Titans at bay and complete the upset.

Morrissey and Green were dazzling, combining for 47 points on 18-for-31 shooting, and grabbing 11 rebounds for Carthage (16-6, 8-5 CCIW). Huber posted 16 points and 12 rebounds for Illinois Wesleyan (20-1, 11-1 CCIW), which was bidding to be the first undefeated CCIW champion since the Titans themselves did it in 2009.

No. 17 Catholic hung tough with No. 3 Scranton, but the Lady Royals pulled away from the Cardinals in the fourth quarter for a 62-53 road win.

Catholic held Scranton well below its season scoring average and held a 42-41 lead early in the fourth quarter following a free throw from All-American Anna Scoblick. The Lady Royals regained the lead with a 6-0 run, but the Cardinals answered back and tied the game at 47-all on Keegan Douglas’ three pointer.

Scranton went back in front on Elizabeth Bennett’s three-pointer, and then Maddie Hartnett’s layup pushed the Lady Royals lead to five with 1:39 to play. Catholic got back within three in the closing minute, but Scranton went 8-for-10 from the foul line, wrapping their 21st straight win.

Bennett scored 16 points while Kaeli Romanowski tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, six steals, and two assists for Scranton (21-0, 14-0 Landmark). Douglas scored 20 points for Catholic (18-3, 11-3 Landmark), which is just the second team to stay within 10-points of Scranton this season.

No. 4 Bowdoin took care of Williams, 80-56, and secured the top spot in the NESCAC playoffs. The Polar Bears jumped on the Ephs early, as Sydney Jones scored 13 of her game-high 22 points in the first quarter and Bowdoin led 24-10 after one. Bowdoin (22-0, 8-0 NESCAC) has a two-game lead and the tiebreaker over second-place Colby with two games remaining in the NESCAC’s short conference season.

After losing to No. 25 Bethel at home earlier this season, No. 8 Gustavus Adolphus turned the tables and defeated the Royals 73-61 in Arden Hills. The Gusties scored the first nine points of the game, and that was close to the final margin of victory. Emma Kniefel poured in 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting for the Gusties (20-1, 13-1 MIAC), who grabbed seven offensive rebounds after having none in the teams’ first meeting.

No. 5 UW-Oshkosh avenged its lone loss of the season with ease, as the Titans routed visiting UW-River Falls, 70-34. Oshkosh outscored River Falls 45-15 in the second half and four Titan starters scored double figures. Kayce Vaile posted a double-double for Oshkosh (20-1, 9-1 WIAC) with 11 points and 10 boards.

The Titans maintain a one-game lead on No. 19 UW-Stout which emphatically turned the WIAC into a two-team race by blasting No. 16 UW-Whitewater, 87-60. Anna Mutch and Lexi Wagner scored 17 points apiece for the Blue Devils, who shot a red-hot 10-for-19 from three. Stout (17-4, 8-2 WIAC) will meet Oskhosh in the regular season finale on Feb. 22.

Capital got 27 points from Samaree Perkins and 29 more from Bri O’Connor, including game-tying free throws in the closing seconds of regulation, but it still wasn’t enough to slow down No. 11 Baldwin Wallace, as the Yellow Jackets topped the Comets 75-69 in overtime for their 20th straight win. Baldwin Wallace got 19 points from Caely Ressler and had a 34-6 bench scoring advantage. The Yellow Jackets (20-1, 14-0 OAC) can clinch the OAC’s top seed with one win in its final four games.

After losing to SUNY Geneseo on Friday, St. John Fisher bounced back and dropped Brockport, 70-67, creating a three-way tie for first between those teams in the Empire 8. Presleigh Brunner hit a three with 1:41 to play, snapping a 65-all tie, and the Cardinals' defense did the rest. Sidney Tomasso led the way for St. John Fisher (17-5, 12-1 E8) with 32 points and 17 rebounds.

Elsewhere...

  • Hunter all-but-clinched the CUNYAC's top seed with a 70-58 win at Baruch behind 24 points and 23 rebounds from Alexa Charles. Gianna Henriques also posted a double-double for the Hawks (15-5, 10-1 CUNYAC) who have a two-game lead on the Bearcats with three to play, including games against 1-win CCNY and 2-win York (NY)
  • Payton Hicks scored 24 points, and East Texas Baptist beat Hardin-Simmons, 82-79, in Abilene. The Tigers improved to 6-0 in conference and remain one loss in front of idle Mary Hardin-Baylor in the ASC standings.
  • Maine Maritime secured the top spot on its side of the NAC with a 79-55 win over second-place Husson. The Mariners outscored the Eagles 41-18 from three as Erianna Moore drained seven of her nine three-point attempts.
  • Southern Virginia blasted Meredith 71-29 and locked up the top spot in the USA South Athletic Conference playoffs. Abigail Snyder scored 22 points in 20 minutes for the Knights (19-2, 13-0 USA South), who won a program-best 17th consecutive game.
  • Merchant Marine also extended its long winning streak with an 81-68 victory over St. Joseph's (L.I.) on Senior Day. Carolae Barton rang up 15 points and 18 rebounds for the Mariners (20-1, 17-0 Skyline) who have won 19 straight.