BOSTON, Mass. (November 6, 2026) – Emerson College led start to finish, holding off Hartwick College down the stretch, to secure a 69-64 opening night victory in non-conference women's basketball action on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium tonight.
Junior Jessie Silk scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the second half to lead Emerson to the win, adding seven rebounds, three assists and a steal. First year Beya Chase added nine points, including a pair of free-throws with five seconds to play that clinched the win in her collegiate debut, with three assists and two rebounds off the bench. Senior Kendra Dodd chipped in eight points, four rebounds and two steals, while junior Lindsay Gould also netted eight points for the Lions with three boards and two steals.
Senior Macy Durkin led three from Hartwick in double figures, notching a double-double with 16 points, ten rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Sophomore Molly Rossum also netted 16 points for the Hawks with six rebounds and three steals, while freshman Ellie Lennon finished with 15 points.
Emerson staked out a 14-point lead (24-10) after a quarter of play behind 52.9-percent shooting (9-for-17) in the quarter, including four three-pointers. The Lions scored the first six points of the contest on its way to an 11-2 run behind five different scorers.
Silk scored a game-high 20 points to lead Emerson to the season-opening win (PHOTO BY Jacob Goldberg, '28) |
Emerson scored the final eight points of the opening quarter, sparked by three-pointers from first year Kailey Hall and Gould. Hartwick pulled back within eight (24-16) after a three-point play from Rossum less than two minutes into the second quarter.
Hartwick closed to within four (25-22) after a Paul three-pointer, but Emerson scored the next seven, including five by Chase, to reclaim a double-figure lead (33-22) with three minutes to go before halftime. The Hawks were able to pull back within six with a minute left in the half, but first year Amaya Beckles closed the half with consecutive threes.
Emerson scored the first seven points of the second half, including five-straight from Silk to start her second half push, to extend the lead to 17 (46-29) with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter. The Lions lead was still 16 (49-33) following another Silk triple, but Hartwick was able to close back within six again (49-43) with a layup from senior Kylie Guarino with two minutes left in the frame.
Emerson carried a ten-point cushion (53-43) into the final frame and extended it to 11 (56-45) with a Silk triple two minutes in. Hartwick responded with seven straight to pull within four (56-52) after two free-throws from freshman Ellie Lennon with six minutes to play. The Hawks drew within a single possession four times down the stretch, closing within a point (63-62) after a Rossum layup with 51-seconds remaining.
Silk knocked down stepback jumper with 23-seconds on the clock, and the Lions sealed the win from there behind free-throws by Dodd and Chase in the closing seconds.
Noteworthy
- Emerson won its season-opener for the third-straight year and eighth time in the last nine years.
- Silk reached the 20-point mark for the eighth time in her career, marking her 34th double-figure scoring game.
- Silk has led Emerson in scoring ten times over her career, with the Lions 8-2 in those contests.
- Dodd made her 70th career start for Emerson tonight.
Up Next
Emerson (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) is right back in action tomorrow night when it hosts Elmira College for a non-conference battle at 7 p.m. Hartwick (0-1, 0-0 Empire 8) visits Curry College tomorrow at 3 p.m.
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