BABSON PARK, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's basketball team was defeated by host No. 16 Babson College, 86-43, this afternoon at Staake Gymnasium in Babson Park, Mass.

The Lyons fall to 12-10 overall and 2-5 in league play, while the Beavers have won 11 of their last 13 games to improve to 18-3 and 5-1.

Babson shot 53.7 (36-67) from the floor, including 6-11 (54.5%) from three-point range and held Wheaton to 25.9% (14-54) from the field and 23.8% (5-21) from three-point territory. The Beavers dominated the glass with a 48-28 rebound margin and recorded 27 assists. Babson took advantage of almost every Lyon miscue, outscoring its guests, 25-4 in points off turnovers.

First year guard Kiki Walters (Fleetwood, Pa.) led Wheaton with 13 points on 4-8 shooting, including 2-4 from long range and added a pair of steals and a rebound. First year forward Nasha Arnold (North Reading, Mass.) netted nine points on 3-4 from the field to go with five rebounds and a pair of assists and sophomore guard Abby Fernandes (Assonet, Mass.) chipped in with eight points, nine boards, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

Sophomore guard Katelyn Mollica (Foxborough, Mass.) paced the Beavers with 19 points on 7-9 from the floor and was a perfect 3-3 from three-point range in addition to pulling down three rebounds, handing out a trio of assists and coming up with a steal. Senior guard Megan Bauman (East Lyme, Conn.) scored 18 points on 8-13 shooting and made both of her three-point tries to go with three rebounds, a steal and a season-high 12 assists. Senior forward Samantha Smith (Greenfield, Mass.) contributed with 14 points, seven boards, two steals and a block.

The Beavers owned a 6-4 lead before scoring 10 straight points as part of a 12-1 run to take an 18-5 lead with 1:42 to play in the opening quarter.

The Lyons cut the deficit to 20-10 following a 5-2 burst capped by a three-pointer from sophomore guard Riley Sprague (Jamestown, R.I.) with 25 ticks left in the quarter.

Babson held a 26-14 cushion with 7:10 showing in the second quarter, before ripping off nine straight points to take a 35-14 lead with 4:05 to play in the opening half. The Beavers took a 42-18 margin into the break.

A layup from sophmore forward Camilla Silk (Medfield, Mass.) increased the home team's lead to 58-30 at 4:28 of the third quarter, before Arnold capped an 8-0 blitz from Wheaton to close to within 58-38 with 1:51 remaining in the third period. Babson scored the final five points of the quarter to take a 63-38 lead into the final period of play.

The Beavers continued their momentum with the first six points of the fourth quarter as part of a 23-5 offensive effort in the final period of play.

The Lyons return to action when they host United States Coast Guard Academy at Emerson Gymnasium in league play on Wednesday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m., while Babson heads to nearby Wellesley, Mass. to play league rival Wellesley College at 7:00 p.m. on the same night.