Third-seeded Amherst College women’s basketball topped Colby 62-40 at LeFrak Gymnasium Saturday, clinching a berth to the NESCAC Semifinal with their 110th consecutive home win. With the victory Amherst improves to 23-2 on the season.

Amherst shot 53.3 percent (24-45) from the floor and 66.7 percent (10-15) from the line while holding Colby to 25 percent (14-56) shooting and 60.0 percent (6-10) from the charity stripe.

Megan Robertson ’15 led the Jeffs with game-highs of 11 points and five blocks. Hannah Hackley ’18 and Ali Doswell ’17 joining Robertson in double figures, with 14 and 11 points respectively. Taking only two shots in the game, Meredith Doswell ’17 stuffed the stat sheet with 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.

The Jeffs’ defensive front line shut down the Mules. Combining for 14 rejections as a team, stellar interior defense held Colby to low percentage shots from the field. Carylanne Wolfington and Caitlyn Nolan knocked in 8 points a piece, helping the visitors make a second half push after falling behind 18 by the break.

Despite a 15-point performance and strong perimeter second half shooting from Colby’s Mia Diplock, the Jeffs went ahead early and stayed ahead. Depending on their hot hands, Amherst used long 10-0 and 9-0 runs in both halves to maintain and extend their lead.

Large leads were characteristic of the game, and at one point the Jeffs led by as much as 27.

Amherst will travel to challenge second-seeded Bowdoin in conference playoff action as they look to build their resume heading toward the NCAA tournament in March.

The game is a rematch of last year’s NESCAC semifinal, a game where Amherst proved to be victorious, but only by a close score of 45-42. Amherst suffered one of just their two losses this season to Bowdoin, falling by a close score of 60-51.

That semifinal game will be hosted by Tufts next Saturday at 4 p.m. With a win, Amherst will earn another appearance in the NESCAC finals, a game scheduled to be played at Tufts that following Sunday.

Should Amherst advance, it could likely be a rematch of last year’s NESCAC final, a game in which Tufts earned the title by a score of 62-46. The Jumbos (the No. 1 seed in the tournament) will have to defeat fourth-seeded Williams in order to have the opportunity to defend their title on their home court. Tufts handed Amherst their other loss this season, by a 65-42 score.