WBB Picks Up First Win in NECC Opener at SVC

BENNINGTON, Vt. - The Mitchell College women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, winning 72-57 at Southern Vermont College in both team's NECC opener.

Mitchell (1-5 overall, 1-0 NECC) was led by freshman Kaylee Cerruto, who finished with 17 points and a career-high eight assists. She also shot 5-of-9 from three-point range and scored in double digits for the third straight game. Junior Brittany Smyth added a season-high 14 points while sophomore Bianca Young chipped in with 11.

The 72 points was a season-high for the Mariners, who have now won their last 10 regular season conference games. The win was also the first for head coach Bernadette Macca, who is in her first season at the helm of the Mariners.

Mitchell went up early in the contest and led 38-26 at the half. The Mariners shot just 30 percent from the floor in the stanza but made up for it by forcing 23 turnovers.

Southern Vermont (1-7 overall, 0-1 NECC), which trailed by as many as 22 points late in the second half, held Mitchell scoreless for the final three minutes. The Mountaineers were able to cut into the defecit but never got closer than 15 points.

Rachel Pannell had a game-high 21 points and added nine rebounds to lead the Mountaineers. Alyssa Davis finished with 12 points and added eights steals and four rebounds while Tasha Smith pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds. 

As a team, the Mariners finished with a season-high 19 steals. Young led the way with five swipes while Smyth and junior Allison Peck each had four.

Mitchell will take an extended break during the winter intermission. The Mariners return to action on Saturday, January 9 at Wheelock College at noon.