HARTFORD, Conn. – The Trinity College Women's Basketball team held off visiting Colby College, 67-60, in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tilt at Oosting Gymnasium Friday night. The Bantams rise to 17-6 overall and 6-3 in conference, while the Mules dip to 6-3 in the NESCAC and 12-10 on the season.
 
Sophomore Olivia Vick powered the Bantams with a team-high 21 points, connecting on a trio of three-pointers and 6-of-8 free throws, with four rebounds, a steal and a block. Classmate Avery Marzo tallied nine points with a career-high five assists and four rebounds. Junior Melissa Whitmore netted eight points with a team-high five boards, while sophomore Marlo Simms added seven points and three rebounds off the bench.
 
The Mules were led by the duo of sophomores Amelia Hanscom and Kate Olenik, who registered 23 points apiece. Olenik added six rebounds, while Hanscom notched three rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Talia Thompson grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and junior Lydia Mordarski had six points and four rebounds in the loss.
 
Trinity led wire-to-wire during the contest, jumping to a 6-0 lead behind five points from Vick. A three-pointer from Whitmore and a layup from junior Samantha Slofkiss extended the advantage to 12-3 midway through the first quarter. The Mules worked at the gap and a three-point play from junior Chelsea Ibenegbu capped a 7-1 run to close the deficit to 13-10. Trinity used buckets from Vick and Marzo take a 17-10 lead into the second quarter.
 
Whitmore helped the Bantams escort their lead to 20-14 with a triple at the 7:55 mark, but the Mules made it a one point game behind a three-pointer from Hanscomb and free throws from Mordarski and Olenik at the four-minute mark. The Bantams held their edge with baskets from Vick and senior Hannah Marzo to hold a 26-25 lead at the half.
 
With a 28-27 lead early in the third quarter, the Bantams created separation with a 16-5 run, paced by eight points from Vick and five from Simms to harness a 44-33 advantage with 3:39 on the clock. The Mules outscored Trinity, 8-4, to close the period trailing 48-41.
 
The Bantams opened the fourth quarter with an 11-5 run to extend the lead to 59-46 with 4:15 to play. Colby rattled off a 7-0 run to make it a 59-53 game, but Trinity held serve from the free throw line, connecting on 8-of-10 attempts down the stretch to secure the 67-60 victory.
 
The Bantams edged the Mules in the rebounding column, 32-29, and in bench points, 19-5, while the Mules controlled the paint, 24-20. Trinity converted 21-of-51 (41.2%) from the field, including 8-of-18 from three-point, and 17-of-24 from the foul line. Colby shot 16-of-52 (30.8%) from the floor, 3-of-19 (15.8%) from three-point, and 25-of-29 (86.2%) from the free throw line.
 
The Bantams will be back in action for their regular season finale against #3 Bowdoin College (23-0, 9-0) at Oosting Gymnasium Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Prior to the game, the Women's Basketball program will honor their departing senior class.