NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's basketball team cut a nine-point fourth quarter deficit down to two with 29 seconds to play against Providence on Saturday afternoon at Lee Amphitheater. But the Friars hit five of six free throws down the stretch, holding off the Bulldogs for a 63-58 win. Senior guard
Jenna Clark had 23 points – three away from her career high, set Wednesday at Stony Brook – and seven assists for Yale.
Yale (2-9, 0-0 Ivy League) got off to a slow start, scoring just three points in the first seven minutes. But the Bulldogs stayed within striking distance, and a three-pointer by Clark at 3:06 tied the game 6-6. Yale would go on to take an 11-8 lead on a three-pointer by junior guard
Christen McCann, part of an eight-point day for her.
Neither team led by more than five during the second quarter, and the Bulldogs took a 22-21 lead into halftime when Clark set up junior guard/forward
Mackenzie Egger for a buzzer-beating jumper.
When Providence (5-5, 0-0 Big East) took a 35-28 lead at 5:13 of the third on a three-pointer by guard Laryn Edwards, the Bulldogs called time – and responded with the game's next four points. Yale eventually tied the game 39-39 on a Clark three-pointer with 39 seconds left in the quarter.
Providence scored eight straight points after that and built a 53-44 lead with 5:21 to play. The Bulldogs then whittled away at the lead, getting within four with 4:01 left and again with 43 seconds left. After Providence hit a free throw sophomore guard
Kiley Capstraw swished a three to pull Yale within two, 58-56, with 29 seconds left.
But Providence hit a pair of free throws, and after Capstraw made a layup to get Yale back within two with 23 seconds left the Friars made two more. After a Yale turnover, one more Providence free throw made the final 63-58.
Notes
- Yale limited Providence to eight assists, the second-lowest total by a Yale opponent this season.
- Yale has hit six or more three-pointers in four straight games.
- Capstraw finished with 12 points. She has now scored in double digits in four straight games and eight of the last nine.
- Junior guard Nyla McGill and junior forward Grace Thybulle tied for the team lead in rebounds with eight each.
Up Next
- Yale has its longest in-season break: 11 days without a game. The Bulldogs play again on Thursday, Dec. 21, hosting St. John's at noon.
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