Hartford, Conn. - Junior center Kate McCloskey (Uxbridge, Mass.) scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down 16 rebounds to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 53-48 win over the visiting Amherst College Lady Jeffs in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC)women’s basketball action this evening at Oosting Gymnasium.

Trinity improves to 11-7 overall and 4-1 in the NESCAC with its second straight win and its fifth in the last six games. Amherst falls to 9-10 overall and 0-5 in the league.

The Jeff defense started the game strong, holding Trinity scoreless for the first eight minutes of the game. Amherst led, 8-0 4:05 into the game but was held without a point itself for the next 7:14. Trinity finally scored on a lay-up by freshman forward Rebecca Bell (Colorado Springs, Colo.), and took the lead, 12-11, on a lay-up by McCloskey with six minutes to play in the half.

Trinity pulled ahead by six, 25-19 at halftime, and withstood a late Amherst rally. The Jeffs pulled within a basket at 41-39 at the five minute mark on two free throws by junior forward Sarah Walker (West Hartford, Conn.), but Trinity scored four quick points and held on for the win.

Trinity senior guard Alison Hadden (Drexel Hill, Pa.) joined McCloskey in double figures with 10 points, and senior co-captain guard Bridget Dullea (Longmeadow, Mass.) dished out nine assists.

Walker paced Amherst with 18 points and 10 boards, while sophomore center Caitlin Farrell (Lafayette, Calif.) added 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and sophomore center Sarah Bergman (Shaftsbury, Vt.) made six steals.

A- Sarah Walker 3-6 12-17 18, Caitlin Farrell 5-11 2-3 12, Shannon Russell 2-8 (1) 0-0 5, Brooke Diamond 2-3 1-3 5, Hallison Putnam 2-7 0-1 4, Sarah Bergman 2-10 0-0 4, Marissa McGuire 0-4 0-0 0, Kate Herlihy 0-1 0-0 0, LaShauna Barboza 0-3 0-0 0.

Totals: 16-53 (1) 15-24 48.

TC- Kate McCloskey 7-15 5-7 19, Alison Hadden 2-6 (1) 5-6 10, Kate Toman 3-9 2-2 8, Michelle McCaffrey 2-6 2-5 6, Rebecca Bell 2-7 2-2 6, Bridget Dullea 1-9 2-3 4, Angela Iandoli 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17-53 (1) 18-25 53.