WBB Hands Daniel Webster First NECC Loss

NASHUA, N.H. - Seeking to break its all-time record for most consecutive victories, the Daniel Webster College women's basketball team fell just short as Mitchell College cooled off the red-hot Eagles, handing them their first NECC loss of the year with a wild 89-82 shootout victory Thursday night at Mario Vagge Gymnasium.

Falling behind early and trailing by as many as 18 in the first half, the Eagles rallied in the second to take their first lead with 13 minutes to play and held a five-point lead (80-75) with 2:58 to go. Mariners freshman Kaylee Cerruto then buried huge back-to-back three-pointers with 2:44 and 2:03 left to help propel Mitchell down the stretch.

DWC retook the lead at 82-81 on an Alycia Gervais layup, but sophomore Destiney Harris followed inside for a one-point Mitchell lead with 54 seconds to play. After Eagle guard Vanessa Bosques missed from outside, junior Marjorie Oliveira buried a fast break layup with 29 seconds left, and Mitchell went 4-for-4 at the line over the final seconds to seal the win.

Mitchell (9-10, 9-5 NECC), now 6-2 over its last eight games, halted the Eagles' win streak at seven, one victory short of breaking their all time season record. Daniel Webster (17-5, 12-1 NECC) maintained a game and half lead over second place Lesley (10-2 NECC), winners at Elms Thursday night.

Mitchell mixed together a lethal concoction in senior shooting guard Jennifer Iglesias and the power forward Harris, who each knocked down 24 points. Iglesias, who notched 20 in the first half, banged home four from outside the arc and dished out eight assists, while Harris pulled in nine rebounds including four on the offensive glass.

Cerruto meanwhile, provided a huge lift off the bench, knocking down four treys to finish with 14 points. Junior Alix O'Neil added 10 points.

For the Eagles, junior guard Joyce Chagan tied her career best with a game-high 29 points, going 11-of-17 from the field. Gervais and Bosques netted 15 apiece. Gervais finished with a game-high 10 boards with four on the offensive glass.

The Eagles were undone by 22 turnovers while Mitchell committed just 14. The Mariners finished with 11 three-pointers in the contest, helping to negate DWC's inside advantage as the Eagles finished with a 42-33 edge in rebounding.

The loss also marked the first time this season the Eagles had given up more than 68 points to a conference opponent. Daniel Webster had beaten Mitchell, 60-45, back on January 16.

Mitchell came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, opening a 15-point lead and holding the Eagles to just 11 points over the first 10:26. Daniel Webster would whittle the lead to six (44-38) with under a minute to go and trailed 46-38 at the break.

DWC rallied to open the second. Trailing by 10 (50-40), the Eagles went on an 11-0 tear ending with a Chagan jumper for their first lead with 13:03 left.

The teams would trade the lead six times over the next eight minutes before DWC forged ahead by as many as six (78-72) on a Gervais layup with 3:38 to play, setting the stage for Mitchell's late rally.

Mitchell returns to action at Elms College on Saturday, February 13 at 1 p.m.