Kaitlin Donahoe '13 poured in a season-high 23 points and Bowdoin College defeated Hamilton College 47-40 in a NESCAC game at Bowdoin’s Morrell Gymnasium on Jan. 4.
It was the third straight win for the Polar Bears. Donahoe led all players with four assists. Shannon Bradley '16 notched her first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and also blocked five shots. Sara Binkhorst '15 contributed seven points and three steals off the bench.
Madie Harlem '13 paced the Continentals with 13 points and seven rebounds. Eliza Howe '13 chipped in 12 points and Dani Feigin '14 added nine on a trio of 3-point shots. Samantha Graber '16 contributed seven boards and three steals.
Bowdoin (6-4 overall, 1-0 NESCAC) broke an 8-8 tie with seven straight points for a 15-8 lead behind five points from Donahoe. The Continentals came back to tie the score at 16-16, and took an 18-17 lead on a Howe layup with 2:51 left in the half.
The Polar Bears scored the final four points of the half to take a 21-18 lead into the break. Harlem and Howe combined to score 16 of Hamilton’s 18 points.
Bowdoin used a 12-2 run to start the second half and increased its advantage to 33-20 with 14:31 left. Donahoe scored seven points during the spurt. Hamilton (5-5, 0-1) answered with a quick 8-0 run highlighted by a pair of Feigin’s 3-pointers to pull back within 33-28.
The Polar Bears extended their lead to 41-34, but Harlem connected on a shot from long range to cut the Continentals' deficit to 41-37 with 4:49 left. Howe tacked on a free throw 39 seconds later to get Hamilton within 41-38, but the Continentals didn't get any closer. Donahoe went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line down the stretch, and the Polar Bears made all 11 free-throw attempts in the final 20 minutes.
Bowdoin outrebounded Hamilton 44-33, and held the Continentals to just 26.3 percent (15-57) shooting from the field. The Polar Bears were just slightly better from the floor at 34 percent (15-44).
Hamilton continues its road trip with a conference game at Colby College on Sunday, Jan. 6.
