OT Win at Southern Vermont Clinches NECC Berth for WBB

BENNINGTON, Vt. -- The Mitchell College women's basketball team held on for a 61-58 overtime victory at Southern Vermont College on Tuesday night at the Mountaineer Athletic Center.

Freshman Savannah Boyle came off the bench to score a season-high 20 points to lead the Mariners. Junior Kate Mulloy recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds while freshman Amanda Garcia posted seven points and a game-high 15 boards.

With the win, Mitchell (6-16 overall, 6-10 NECC) clinched a berth in the upcoming NECC Championship. The Mariners will be making their fifth straight championship appearance.

Mitchell made only two field goals in the five-minute overtime period but made the margin stand behind stingy defense. Southern Vermont went without a field goal in the extra frame and scored only three points from the free throw line. The Mountaineers missed four shots and turned the ball over six times in overtime.

Both teams started the game slowly with Southern Vermont getting its first five points at the free throw line. Mitchell held the advantage for a majority of the opening stanza, but strong bench play by Javasha White helped spark a Mountaineer comeback that tied the contest a handful of times. She finished with seven points and eight rebounds in the first half.

Two free throws from freshman Diamond Thomas and a jumper by Boyle gave Mitchell a 23-20 lead at the half. Thomas led all players at the break with eight points while Mulloy had six boards.

Shortly into the second period, an old fashion three-point play by Amber Flagg put the hosts up 27-25. Mulloy answered with a jumper to once again tie things up. After a White basket put SVC ahead, sophomore Zilka Navarro drained a three to put Mitchell up 32-20 with 13:05 to play in regulation.

The Mariners went up by seven, but a 6-0 Southern Vermont run capped by two Nicole Principato free throws chopped the lead back to 40-39. The Mountaineers then played the ball down low to Sara McDonald, who worked her pivot foot before eventually turning around for the go-ahead jumper.

Garcia tied the game at 45-45 on a free throw with 4:15 left on the clock. The Mountaineers responded with a huge three-pointer by Flagg, followed by Kala MacKenzie blocking a shot by senior Suzie Barbosa. Mariah Anthony then hit a jumper as the Mountaineers went ahead 50-45.

Boyle helped the Mitchell cause as she came down the floor and put one up from behind the arc, getting fouled on her way down as the ball dropped through the rim. She hit the ensuing free throw and the Mariners quickly found themselves back to within one. Senior Kaylee Cerruto followed with a three-pointer to put Mitchell on top 52-50.

With the score tied at 53-53, McDonald missed a jumper with under a minute to play, and Mulloy picked up her fifth foul on the offensive end after crashing into Flagg while going for a loose ball. Flagg converted both free throws with the Mountaineers in the double bonus, and SVC stood ahead 55-53 as Mitchell used a full timeout with 18 ticks to play.

A foul on MacKenzie put Boyle at the line for two to tie with 0.8 seconds on the clock, and she converted both. Southern Vermont was unable to get a shot off as time expired.

Navarro nailed a three to start the extra period, and Boyle later followed with her fourth triple of the game to put Mitchell up six. Though the Mariners wouldn't score again over the final 2:54 of overtime, it would be enough to squeak out the win.

Boyle scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half and overtime. She also pulled down five rebounds.

Mitchell will next host Becker College on Thursday, February 14 at 6 p.m.