WBB Overcomes Slow Start to Down Lesley

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team overcame a slow start to post a 71-63 conference victory over Lesley University on Tuesday evening at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Four players scored in double figures for the Mariners (5-8 overall, 4-3 NECC), who extended their winning streak to four games. Freshman Zilka Navarro paced Mitchell with 20 points and added five assists. Grace Amato led all scorers with 26 points and added a game-high 17 rebounds to pave the way for the Lynx (0-11 overall, 0-6 NECC).

Lesley grabbed an early lead thanks to a cold start by the Mariners, who missed their first 12 field goal attempts and quickly fell behind 10-1. Mitchell's first basket finally came with 13:12 remaining in the stanza and sparked a 12-2 run. Sophomore Cora Harris scored six points during the stretch and gave the Mariners their first lead at 13-12 on a jumper with 9:30 to go.

Mitchell went on to lead by as many as 10 points in the half and held a 30-24 advantage at the break. Harris scored 10 of her career-high 12 points in the half while Navarro added 11. Amato led the Lynx with seven points at the intermission.

Lesley trailed by as many as nine points in the second half but rallied back behind the play of Amato, who was nearly unstoppable in the paint. She finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the second half alone, and her lay-up with 5:56 remaining trimmed the deficit to one at 50-49. The Lynx then tied the game on their next trip down the floor when Chelsea Contre was fouled and made one of two from the line.

Mitchell struck back on the ensuing possession, as freshman Hannah Smith drained a three-pointer from the wing to put the Mariners back in front. Smith finished with a season-high 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting and added seven rebounds.

A lay-up and free throw by senior Bianca Young put Mitchell up 58-52 with 3:08 to go, and Lesley never again made it a single-possession game. The Mariners clinched the victory by going 11-for-12 from the free throw line in the closing minute of play.

The Lynx shot 38 percent from the floor but went only 11-for-22 at the charity stripe. Contre and Sarah Apgar each netted 10 points to help the Lesley cause while Emily Fleming had seven assists and three steals to go along with five points.

The Mariners shot 38 percent for the contest and went 24-for-35 from the line. Freshman Sheanna James rounded out the Mitchell double-digit scorers with 16 points and added team highs of nine rebounds and seven assists.

Mitchell will next host Daniel Webster College on Thursday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m.