With school back in session, the women’s basketball team got right back on track after suffering its first loss of the season to Tufts, who is currently ranked first in NESCAC standings, over interterm. The Jeffs dug their heels in and bounced back with three NESCAC wins over Bates, Trinity and, most notably, Williams this past Wednesday. The win in Williamstown marks the second for Amherst over their archrival this season and improves Amherst’s record to 16-1 overall.

On the way to a 65-51 victory, sophomore Jamie Renner led the charge on offense with 19 points and four assists. Her classmate Meredith Doswell took control on defense, pulling down 10 defensive rebounds and 11 overall. Additionally, she chipped in ten points on offense to earn her first double-double of the season. Their efforts were supplemented by senior Megan Robertson’s 14 points and sophomore Hannah Peterson’s 11.

The game was a tale of two halves. At the end of the first, the Jeffs lead 26-14 and went in to the locker room confident and spirited. In the second, the Ephs would give the Jeffs a run for their money, as Amherst would outscore Williams by just two points in the half. Williams’ Oge Uwanaka scored all of her 13 points in the second half while also chipping in seven rebounds and two steals. However, Uwanaka’s added spark was not enough for the Ephs to chip away at Amherst’s lead. Late second half points by Renner and Doswell would ultimately ensure the win for the Jeffs.

Amherst got back to work the following Saturday against Trinity, defeating them 72-38 in Hartford to improve to a record of 16-1. The Jeffs are currently ranked third in the nation behind FDU-Florham and Thomas More. The team looks to move up in the national rankings and take back the No. 1 NESCAC spot from Tufts this upcoming week as they travel to Maine, playing Colby and Bowdoin back to back on Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 1.