The Amherst women’s basketball team improved to a perfect 6-0 record after going undefeated in two tries this week, topping Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) in an away matchup on Thursday before turning around and routing Farmingdale State University on Saturday.
The Mammoths went on the road on Thursday evening for the first time this season against the ECSU Warriors and returned with not just another victory, but with a milestone for head coach G.P. Gromacki as well. Gromacki, in his 11th year at the helm, achieved his 300th win at Amherst.
However, it was a rocky start to the game for the Mammoths, who trailed at the end of the first quarter for the first time all season, falling behind 19-18 after the first 10 minutes thanks to fierce defense and steady shooting by the Warriors.
However, Amherst quickly regained its composure in the second quarter, disrupting ECSU’s offense to the tune of six turnovers in 10 minutes and holding the hosts to only four baskets.
Additionally, Amherst began to find its stroke, as the Mammoths were able to put in 19 points in 10 minutes.
Emma McCarthy ’19 and Hannah Hackley ’18 helped out under the basket, snatching up offensive rebounds and putting them away for several second chance points.
When the whistle blew to mark the end of the first half, Amherst was up nine.
Though Eastern had been hoping to make a comeback, such hopes were quickly discarded in the third quarter.
A combined 15 points from Jackie Nagle ’18 off the bench and starting point guard Hannah Fox ’20 gave the Mammoths a 19-point lead, 57-38, heading into the final 10 minutes.
Four Amherst starters finished the game in double figures, led by Hackley’s 16 points to pace all scorers and McCarthy’s double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Madeline Eck ‘20 added 13 points and Fox put in 10. Nagle added 15 points off the bench, going an impressive 7-8 from the floor.
With a score of 72-54 in Amherst’s favor at the final whistle, Amherst had come up with the win to run its season-long win streak to five games and overall win streak to 38 straight.
Amherst came up with another away victory two days later, trumping Farmingdale State by 30 points to improve their record to 6-0.
Fox was instrumental in the win, putting up 18 points to lead all scorers and providing poise and calmness from the point guard position.
She also dished out three assists and grabbed six rebounds to help the Mammoths out under the basket.
McCarthy had a big game as well, recording her second double-double of the week with a game-high 12 rebounds and 13 points in the victory.
With this victory, the purple and white have recorded 39 straight victories, dating back to last season’s opening game.
Amherst does not have a midweek game this week but will host Bridgewater State at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 in a non-conference matchup.
After that, the Mammoths will take a few weeks off before travelling to Las Vegas for the 2017 d3hoops.com Classic tournamentfor a first round matchup against UC Santa Cruz. They will then face off against Trine, Unviersity, Chapman University, and University of Redlands.
