Wesleyan University's Tori DaCosta scored 16 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and the Hamilton College Continentals fell to the Cardinals 63-52 in the first round of the 2022 NESCAC Women's Basketball Championship at Wesleyan's Silloway Gymnasium on Friday night.
 
Tenth-seeded Hamilton (9-13 overall) was not able to get any rhythm going on offense as the Continentals shot 31.1 percent from the field. Hamilton was able to stay in the game by forcing 17 turnovers as they swiped 11 steals and created some fast-break chances. Six Continentals collected at least one steal, and Kelcie Zarle '22 and Emily Hall '24 led the team with three apiece.
 
Zarle, a NESCAC Player of the Year candidate, carried Hamilton on offense. She scored 22 points and drained all four of her free-throw attempts. Hall posted her first double-double for the Continentals, scoring 13 points and collecting a season-high 10 rebounds, and led the team with five assists. Claire Sehring '22 helped out on the boards with eight including four on the offensive glass.
 
No. 7 seed Wesleyan (12-12) used a balance scoring attack besides DaCosta. Marina Petruzzi dropped in 13 points and handed out six assists, and Maddie Clark scored 10. Caleigh Ryan was a point short of a double-double with nine to go along with 10 rebounds. Wesleyan shot 41 percent from the floor and held a 46-34 advantage in rebounds.
 
The Cardinals never trailed but the score was tied three times in the first quarter, including at 9-9 midway the first. Wesleyan scored the next five points and led the rest of the way. The Cardinals held a 16-12 edge after one and were up 25-21 at the break. Wesleyan opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run and took its first double-digit lead at 34-23 with 6:43 left. Hamilton didn't get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
 
The postseason loss ended the Continentals' season. The team will miss seniors Zarle, Sehring and Ellie Storey '22 heading into the 2022-23 season. Zarle finished her Hamilton career with 899 points in three seasons.