WBB Holds Off Late Charge at Wheelock

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The Mitchell College women's basketball team used a big first half to top Wheelock College, 69-60, Thursday night in New England Collegiate Conference action at Brunelli Court.

Mitchell, which won back-to-back games for the first time this season, improved to 3-9 overall (3-3 NECC). Amanda Garcia netted a game-high 18 points to lead four Mariners in double digits. Jessica Shepherd added 16 points while Savannah Boyle and Dazjavia Williams chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Williams also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to record the first double-double of her career.

Michelle Woods paced Wheelock (5-8 overall, 3-3 NECC) with 15 points while Kayla Corshia and Katie Alsip contributed 10 points each.

The Mariners built a 14-point lead in the first half by limiting Wheelock to just 24-percent shooting from the floor. Mitchell's starting five scored 32 of the team's 34 points in the stanza as Shepherd racked up nine points, all from downtown.

Leading 34-20 at the break, Mitchell opened up its largest lead on the opening possession of the second half as Garcia connected on a jumper. The Mariners kept a comfortable lead until the final minutes of the contest. Wheelock trailed by 12 with 3:26 to go before ripping off eight straight points to close the gap.

A three-pointer by Jen Albertelli later cut the deficit to 63-60 for the Wildcats. However, it was the last points that Wheelock would score, and Mitchell closed out the win from the charity stripe as Ashleigh Beauford, Samantha Ryan and Boyle all sank a pair of freebies in the final 41 seconds.

Diamond Thomas finished with eight points and a game-high seven assists for the Mariners. Beauford and Ryan both played quality minutes off the bench and grabbed five rebounds apiece.

Mitchell will next host Lesley University on Saturday, January 17 at 1 p.m.