Wesleyan University led the whole way in the Cardinals' 65-56 NESCAC victory against the Hamilton College Continentals at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Friday night.

The Continentals (8-4, 0-2 NESCAC) owned a 36-15 advantage in bench points and limited Wesleyan to 28.4 percent shooting from the floor, but Hamilton went 10-for-22 at the free-throw line. The Cardinals grabbed 24 offensive rebounds, enjoyed a 58-40 cushion on the glass, and attempted 34 free throws.

Kendall Rallins '19 led the Continentals with a season-high 12 points. Mackenzie Aldridge '20 chipped in nine points off the bench and Liz Arnold '22 dropped in eight points. Carly O'Hern '20 grabbed a team-high seven boards.

Olivia Gorman paced Wesleyan (8-5, 1-2) with 23 points as she went 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Chynna Bailey filled the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals. Tara Berger and Caleigh Ryan also finished with nine boards, and Ava Tompkins passed out a game-high five assists.

The Cardinals scored the first four points and never trailed. Two Gorman free throws gave Wesleyan its first double-digit lead at 14-4 midway through the first quarter. Hamilton countered with a 9-0 run and pulled within one at 14-13 with 1:41 left in the first. Rallins started the spurt with two layups, Mia Caterisano '19 nailed a jumper, and Arnold knocked down a 3-pointer. Gorman scored five points in the last 91 seconds of the quarter and the Cardinals led 19-13 after one. Gorman finished the quarter with 11 points.

Wesleyan held the Continentals to five points in the second quarter and the Cardinals took a 35-18 lead into the break. Gorman scored seven more points and Wesleyan led by as many as 18 in the quarter.

A 3-pointer by Tompkins gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the night of 19 points at 44-25 with 5:28 remaining in the third quarter. Wesleyan led 51-36 after three and Hamilton didn't get closer than seven points in the fourth quarter. Rallins and Aldridge combined to score 14 of the Continentals' 20 points in the final 10 minutes.

Hamilton hosts Connecticut College for another NESCAC game on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m.