Purchase Pushes Past WBB

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team dropped a 79-56 decision to Purchase College on Thursday night in non-conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Jazmin Garcia and Jess Lindsay combined to score 56 points to fuel the Purchase offense. Garcia netted a career-high 30 points on 12-for-23 shooting while adding five rebounds and a game-high eight steals. Lindsay shot 12-for-19 from the floor and finished with 26 points despite playing only 27 minutes.

Freshman Jessica Shepherd led Mitchell with 13 points while sophomore Amanda Garcia added 12 points and nine rebounds. Shepherd finished 7-for-11 from the free throw line and also contributed seven rebounds. 

Mitchell led 11-7 nearly seven minutes into the contest before Purchase (4-3 overall) pulled in front for good behind a three-pointer by Jazmin Garcia and consecutive jumpers by Lindsay. The Panthers held a slim lead until opening up a double-digit margin late in the stanza, using a 13-5 run over the final 4:25 of the half to take a 36-24 lead into the break.

Purchase picked up where it left off to start the second half, scoring eight of the period's first 10 points to vault to a 44-26 advantage. The Mariners trimmed the deficit back to 12 with just over 10 minutes to go in the contest, but the Panthers never lost control and eventually built the lead to as big as 25 following a lay-up by Jazmin Garcia with a minute to go.

Mitchell held a commanding edge on the glass (54-27) but turned the ball over 40 times. The Panthers outscored the Mariners 38-26 in the paint and 30-15 in points off turnovers. Purchase shot 44 percent for the game while Mitchell checked in at 36 percent.

Lineker St. Hilaire had a strong game on the defensive end for Purchase, finishing with six steals to go along with seven points, seven rebounds and four assists. April Uhl and Jessica Bullock each handed out four assists as well.

Freshman Caycee Williams finished with six points, eight rebounds and a game-high three blocks. Sophomore Dazjavia Williams came off the bench to add six points and eight boards in 27 minutes.

Mitchell (2-6 overall) will enjoy an extended break before next playing at Johnson & Wales University on Saturday, January 4 at 1 p.m.