NEW LONDON, Conn. — For the second year in a row, the Williams College women’s basketball team traveled to Connecticut College on the last weekend of the season with three conference losses and a shot at a home playoff game on the line.

 

In 2014, the Camels beat the Ephs by 15; Williams finished tied for fifth in the conference, then traveled to Bowdoin and bowed out of the NESCAC tournament and lost in the quarterfinals.

 

On Friday, the Ephs (18-5, 6-3 NESCAC) took another step towards erasing memories of last season’s disappointing finish, beating Conn (15-8, 5-4 NESCAC), 78-69, to guarantee Williams a game in Chandler Gym next weekend against the Camels.

 

In the process, the Ephs picked up their fourth win in five games, with their only loss in that stretch a four-point loss to No. 4 Tufts.

 

Kellie Macdonald led the Ephs with 18 points and tied a season-high with four assists to go along with six rebounds.

 

Macdonald’s fellow senior and co-captain Ellen Cook chipped in with nine points, including four clutch free throws to salt things away after the Camels pulled to within six points with a minute to go.

 

The Ephs now head to Middletown, where they will take on Little Three rival Wesleyan in their regular season finale.

 

MEN'S BASKETBALL

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – In a closely contested NESCAC match in front of a packed Chandler Gymnasium, the Williams College men's basketball team (14-8, 5-4) defeated the Connecticut College Camels (7-15, 0-9) by a score of 83-81 on Friday night.

 

Daniel Wohl and Ryan Kilcullen led Williams with 20 points apiece.

 

Williams closes its NESCAC season on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Wesleyan.

 

MEN'S HOCKEY

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- The Middlebury Panthers (9-9-3, 6-6-3 NESCAC) shut out Williams (13-6-2, 9-5-1 NESCAC), 2-0, on Friday night.

 

Evan Neugold scored for the Panthers early in the first, and Ronald Fishman scored for the Panthers early in the second to round out the scoring.

 

Middlebury’s goaltender Stephen Klein made 22 saves to complete his shutout. Sean Dougherty for the Ephs made thirty-four saves.

 

The teams will play each other again Saturday night in Williamstown 7 p.m.