MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (November 16, 2025) – Host Wesleyan University dealt Emerson College its first setback of the season with a 63-54 decision to close out the 2025 Courtyard by Marriott Classic in non-conference women's basketball action at Silloway Gymnasium this afternoon.
Sophomore Jessie Silk capped off All-Tournament honors from Emerson with her second double-double of the weekend and third of the season overall (fifth career) with a career and game-high 32 points, burying all six three-pointers, with a game-best 13 rebounds, three steals and two assists. She averaged 23.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game over the Lions two games at the Classic, shooting a combined 73.7% (14-19) from the free-throw line and connecting on 6-of-8 (75%) three-pointers for the weekend.
Senior Olivia Quinn led Wesleyan with a double-double effort of 30 points and 12 rebounds to earn Most Outstanding Player honors at the tournament, connecting on 5-of-7 three-pointers and adding two assists, two steals and two blocked shots for the Cardinals. Sophomore Meghan Kirck added 17 points and two assists, while junior Ali Murphy pulled down 11 boards for the Cardinals.
First-year Annie Ferguson added six points, six rebounds and two steals for Emerson this afternoon. Junior Elise Arnold chipped in four points and five boards off the bench for the Lions.
Emerson hit 4-of-7 three-pointers in grabbing a seven-point lead (16-9) after a quarter of play as Silk netted half of the Lions points in the frame and the visitors closed the quarter with eight-straight points, including back-to-back triples by Silk. Emerson would make just 1-of-13 shots in the second quarter that saw Wesleyan reverse course and take a two-point lead (24-22) into halftime behind ten points from Quinn. Arnold ended the Lions shooting drought with a jumper with a minute to play that cut the Cardinals four-point lead in half heading into the break.
Wesleyan scored the first ten points of the second half to extend its lead to 12 (34-22) after a floater by Quinn four minutes into the third quarter. Emerson drew back within five (34-29) after a three-point play by Silk, but the Cardinal pulled away again, stretching their lead to 14 (43-29) with 2:26 left in the third following back-to-back three-pointers by Kirck and Quinn.
Emerson scored the final six points of the quarter to draw within seven (45-38) after a Silk three at the horn heading to the fourth quarter. Ferguson pulled the Lions within five (45-40) with the opening basket of the fourth quarter, but the visitors would get no closer. Wesleyan sealed the win with an 8-1 spurt for a 15-point cushion (61-46) following a three by sophomore Maddie Dayton with 4:41 to play. Emerson would not get inside double digits until Silk's closing three-pointer with less than five seconds on the clock for the final margin.
Noteworthy
- Silk has scored in double figures in all four Emerson games this season after the first 30-point game of her career that marked her fourth 20-plus point game and her 19th career double-digit game.
- Silk posted her third double-digit rebound game of the season (fifth career).
- This afternoon marked the first time Emerson lost a game in which Silk was its leading scorer (4-1) over her brief two-year career.
- Emerson finished shooting 32.1% (17-53) from the floor, including 9-for-20 (45%) from three-point distance.
- Wesleyan shot 39.7% (25-63) for the game, including 9-for-14 (64.3%) in the third quarter alone, finishing 9-for-23 (39.1%) from beyond the arc.
Up Next
Emerson (3-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) returns to action next weekend when it participates in the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament, hosted by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, on Saturday and Sunday, opening against the host Corsairs on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Lions next home game is on Tuesday, November 25, when they host Western New England University at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym at 5:30 p.m. Wesleyan (2-0, 0-0 NESCAC) will also be at the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament and opens against University of New England on Saturday at 5 p.m.
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