January 13, 2024

Women's Basketball Sits Atop NESCAC with Wins Over Conn. and Tufts

In their opening contests of the NESCAC calendar, the Mules defended Mayflower Hill taking care of Conn. College and Tufts both in dominant fashion.

Friday night against the Camels, the Mules jumped out to a 33-7 lead on the way to a 35-16 halftime score. Colby maintained their cushion throughout the second half to cruise to a 67-46 victory. Kate Olenik finished the game with 20 points and five rebounds as Amelia Hanscom fell just shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards. Lydia Mordarski (headline photo) rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points.

Colby kept their energy for Saturday's showdown against Tufts, scoring 22 points in each of the first three quarters of play for a big 66-45 lead heading into the final frame. The Mules once again held their cushion defeating Tufts in back-to-back seasons for the first time in over 20 years.

As a team, Colby shot 52% from the field while holding the Jumbos to just 28% shooting. Once again Olenik led the offense, netting 22 points alongside six rebounds and five assists. She currently sits second in the NESCAC averaging 19.9 points per game. Mordarski and Hanscom contributed 16 points apiece with Chelsea Ibenegbu chipping in 11.

Women’s Basketball will remain at home this week hosting Husson on Tuesday before facing Bates in conference action midday Sunday.

Women's Alpine Skiing Claims Podium in EISA Opener

The Alpine Ski teams opened their EISA Carnival season this weekend at Sunday River for the Bates Carnival. Lydia Riddell's (headline photo) silver medal in the Giant Slalom highlighted the stellar weekend for the Mules as the women placed 2nd in GS (out of 13 teams) and 3rd in the Slalom.

Carissa Cassidy landed in the top-10 both days, and while the men's team was led by Harrison Digangi's 13th in the Slalom and Patrick Coughlin's 16th place finish in the Giant Slalom.

Women's Top-30 Finishes:

• Riddell - 2nd Giant Slalom
• Cassidy - 4th Slalom, 9th Giant Slalom
• Hannah Soria - 7th Slalom, 11th Giant Slalom
• Finn Boissonneault - 17th Slalom
• Molly Mueller - 19th Giant Slalom, 25th Slalom
• Charlotte Maurer - 22nd Slalom

Men's Top-30 Finishes:

• Digangi - 13th Slalom
• Coughlin - 16th Giant Slalom, 30th Slalom
• Brooks Reed - 23rd Slalom
• Topher Davenport - 28th Slalom

Colby next heads to Lake Placid, N.Y. for the St. Lawrence Carnival. The Giant Slalom will take place on Thursday with the Slalom the following day.

Men's Ice Hockey Downs #15 UNE, Splits NESCAC Series

In a three-game week, Colby got an early kickstart Monday night in their first matchup of the season against a ranked opponent, welcoming the University of New England to Mayflower Hill. Three goals in the opening period vaulted Colby ahead, but three goals in the third frame by the Nor'easters leveled the score. With two minutes to play, Bobby Landry took a feed across the crease from Matt MacDonald to sound the horn and deliver UNE only its second loss in the last six weeks.

Colby tallied first yet again in Friday's back-and-forth battle with Amherst, but a fierce Mammoth team refused to yield. Tied at two heading into the third, the O'Neil | O'Donnell Forum was once again on high alert for final frame fireworks. Not wanting to disappoint, Jake MacDonald took a feed up the ice for a shorthanded game-winning score.

Looking for a sweep on the week, the Mules hosted ninth-ranked Hamilton Saturday. The Continentals scored one in the first, one in the second, and another in the third to outpace Colby 3-1. First-year Cooper Rautenstrauch defended the cage in all three games this week and currently ranks second in the NESCAC in goals against average and third in save percentage.

Colby will take its 9-3-1 record to Connecticut this weekend, taking on Wesleyan Friday night followed by a matinee at Trinity on Saturday.

Men’s Basketball Grabs Opening Conference Win over Conn. College

With 12 non-conference games in the books before NESCAC play opened this weekend, the Mules split conference play with a victory over Conn. College and a setback at #13 Tufts.

The first 10 minutes of Friday night's action against Conn. College was played tight until Dan Civello checked in to provide a spark off the bench scoring 12 points in 12 minutes to give the Mules a double-digit halftime advantage. The Camels looked to take a lead of their own with eight minutes to go as they took Colby’s lead down to just a basket but a Ben Kaczmarek three gave a slight edge back to the Mules as they held on for a 69-56 win. Civello had a great performance finishing the game with a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double. Jack Lawson added 18 points to the win and Max Poulton tallied 14.

In Saturday’s matchup in Medford the game totaled 20 lead changes and even saw the Mules with a six-point lead with eight minutes to play. Tufts erased the deficit moments later converting on consecutive transitions, and lengthened its lead late with successful play around the hoop. Their final 16 points were scored either from paint or free throw line. Lawson finished with 24 points in the contest with three others adding double-digit scoring: Poulton (15), Sam Hinman (12) and Savion Stroud (10).

The 9-5 Mules will stay on the road traveling to Bowdoin Tuesday and Bates Saturday.