Strong Second Half Secures WBB Win Over Wheelock

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team used a strong second half to secure a 60-34 victory over Wheelock College in a Tuesday afternoon matinee between the two NECC schools at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Leading by 13 at halftime, Mitchell (6-4 overall, 3-0 NECC) outscored Wheelock by a 25-12 margin in the second half to remain undefeated in conference play. Sophomore Kaylee Cerruto led all scorers with 16 points while senior Alix O'Neil chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds. The Mariners shot 33 percent for the game and held a 44-38 edge on the glass that included 22 offensive boards.

Wheelock (3-8 overall, 2-2 NECC) shot 28 percent and committed 23 turnovers. Kayla Drescher led the Wildcats with 10 points and eight rebounds while Keneisha Milton added eight points and a game-high 12 boards.

The Mariners led 5-0 in the early going before Wheelock answered back with seven straight points to take its first and only lead on a Drescher basket with 13:10 to play in the half. Mitchell junior Bianca Young tied the score with a pair of free throws a minute later, and a jumper by O'Neil with 12:15 to go put the Mariners back in front.

Mitchell pushed its lead to double digits in the final minute of the half. Cerruto buried a jumper with 34 seconds remaining to extend the margin to 11, and O'Neil finished off a put-back as time expired to give the Mariners a 35-22 lead at the break. O'Neil netted 10 of her 15 points in the stanza to lead all scorers at the intermission.

The Wildcats scored on their opening possession of the second half but then went ice cold from the field. Wheelock missed its next six field goal attempts and didn't score its second basket of the half until Drescher connected on a jumper with 8:37 to play. The Mariners, who led 53-30 at that point, coasted to the victory behind a solid second-half effort led by Cerruto.

Mitchell finished with 26 points off the 23 Wheelock turnovers and outscored the Wildcats 30-12 in the paint. Young also finished in double digits with 13 points and added five rebounds while senior Allison Peck handed out a career-high six assists.

The Mariners also got good production off the bench from freshmen Nina Giansanti and Cora Harris and sophomore Jordan Ringwood. Giansanti finished with six points, four rebounds and three steals while Harris and Ringwood pulled down five rebounds apiece.

Mitchell will next play at Southern Vermont College on Thursday, January 13 at 4 p.m.