The journey for a national championship ended for the No.4 Amherst College women’s basketball team, who fell short to the No.1 ranked Thomas More last Saturday in a heartbreaking battle at the Capital Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The first quarter of the game was fast-paced and evenly matched. After getting off to a 4-0 lead, the Saints began to let up and Jaimie Renner ’17 hit the first points for the purple and white with a crafty layup up the middle. Hannah Hackley ’18 then added two more baskets to put Amherst ahead by two. After more back-and-forth play, the women were able to finish the first quarter with a two-point advantage as a result of a mid-range basket by Ali Doswell ’17.

Amherst let up in the second quarter, allowing a 7-0 five-minute Saints run in the middle of the quarter. When the buzzer rang the score was 27-20 with a Thomas More advantage.

Amherst came into the third quarter firing, and after back-to-back baskets by Meredith and Ali Doswell. Both sides pressured on the offensive ends, and at the 4:45 mark in the third quarter Amherst gained a 34-32 edge after a Renner layup.

The last minutes of the third and fourth quarters were characterized by close play, but the Saints continued to maintain a slight lead for the rest of regulation play. The score finished at 74-65, advantage Thomas More, and it was the end of the road for the purple and white.

Four Amherst players went into double digit scoring. Hackley had a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Meredith Doswell came in a close second with 16 points. Ali Doswell added 13 and Renner chipped in 10 in the close match.
Amherst led Thomas More in fast break points and assisted points, and was comparable in field goal percentage as well as turnovers, but the Saints capitalized on their offensive rebounding, putting back a staggering 25 second chance points, whereas Amherst only scored four. Hackley was named to the Final Four All-Tournament team as a result of her stellar performance in the game.

Although the season has now come to a close, the team looks with much confidence to next season. Sophomores such as Hackley and Jackie Nagle ’18 have been huge standouts this season, and juniors Ali and Meredith Doswell and Renner will serve as great leaders for the 2016-17 season.