WBB Makes It Eight Straight at DWC

NASHUA, N.H. – Senior Kate Mulloy registered game highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds and freshman Jessica Shepherd added 11 points to lead the Mitchell College women's basketball team past host Daniel Webster College, 72-60, in a New England Collegiate Conference match-up Saturday at Mario Vagge Gymnasium.

Mulloy 11-for-19 from the field and sophomore Toshina Jessamy added 11 rebounds with eight points and seven assists as the Mariners won their eighth straight game. Mitchell improved to 10-7 overall (10-1 NECC) and remained in sole possession of second place in the conference, a game behind Regis College. Sophomore Savannnah Boyle picked up nine points for the winners, while freshman Caycee Williams and sophomore Amanda Garcia added six points apiece.

Ashley England led Daniel Webster (7-10, 5-6 NECC) with 21 points including five three-pointers. Ashley Giampetruzzi notched nine points while Katherine Johnson added seven with six rebounds. Natalie Nagle paced DWC with nine boards and chipped in with six points. Kayla Free and Ariel Guzman contributed six points each.

Mitchell shot steady throughout at 44 percent in each half while DWC was limited to 31 percent. The Mariners owned a sizable advantage on the boards (54-40), outscored DWC 30-18 in the paint, and combined for 19 team assists and six blocked shots.

DWC led three times in the first half but Mitchell took the lead for good by closing the period with a 10-3 run. Mulloy scored seven points during the stretch as the Mariners enjoyed a 33-27 advantage at the break.

The game turned during a 10-minute stretch in the second half. DWC had pulled within six on a Guzman three-pointer to close the deficit to 40-34 with 17:52 to go, but the Eagles went cold, connecting on only one of their next 15 chances. DWC also turned the ball over five timems, leading to a 21-4 Mariners run that ended on a Garcia jumper that stretched the lead to 23 with 7:45 left.

The Eagles responded, however, hitting five of their next nine while Mitchell missed its next eight and committed three turnovers. The result was a 15-2 DWC run that was punctuated by back-to-back treys from England that pulled the hosts back to within 10 with 3:56 left.

But the Eagles got no further over the next three minutes, connecting on just one field goal while Mitchell sealed the victory at the free throw line in the final moments.

Mitchell will next host Wheelock College on Tuesday, January 28 at 5:30 p.m. The game is the first part of the Blackout doubleheader. The first 200 Mitchell students will receive a free t-shirt, and at halftime of each game there will contests and prizes that include gift cards, a free semester of book rentals, and an iPad.