Wheelock Slips Past WBB in Final Seconds

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Wheelock College women's basketball team held on for a 62-59 victory at Mitchell College on Thursday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Wildcats outscored the Mariners 24-21 in the fourth quarter to secure their seventh straight win, improving to 9-2 overall and 2-3 in league play. Michelle Woods scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the second half and added a team-best nine rebounds in the win. Brianna Hochwarter and Kayla Corshia also finished in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Mitchell (3-7 overall, 2-3 NECC) was led by 12 points from Chelsea Newman, who also recorded her first double-double of the season with a game-high 10 boards. Amanda Garcia and Diamond Thomas each chipped in with 11 points while Savannah Boyle added nine.

Boyle knocked down a pair of threes in the opening minutes of the contest to put the Mariners in front. Mitchell later closed the quarter behind a jumper from Garcia and a three-pointer by Toshina Jessamy to extend the lead to 17-10 after one period.

Wheelock responded by netting the first eight points of the second quarter to take its first lead at 18-17 with 7:23 remaining in the half. After a stretch where both offenses went cold, Mitchell regained the lead only to fall behind late on a three by Julia Salerno. However, Newman capped the first-half scoring with a bucket in the paint to give the Mariners a slim 24-23 edge at the break.

With the score tied at 38-38 heading into the final stanza, Wheelock pulled ahead early in the fourth quarter but couldn't shake Mitchell. The Mariners trailed 53-48 with 4:20 to go but rallied back to tie the game twice in the next 3:20, both times on baskets by Newman.

Woods then took over for the Wildcats. After a pair of free throws put her team back on top, she delivered a three-point play with 15.7 seconds remaining that bumped the lead to 61-55. She scored 11 of Wheelock's 24 points in the final quarter and finished the game shooting 8-for-12 from the floor.

Mitchell will next play at Lesley University on Saturday, January 16 at 7 p.m. Wheelock returns to action at Southern Vermont College on Saturday at 1 p.m.