Strong Second Half Leads WBB Over Elms

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to post a 62-51 victory over Elms College on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Mariners, who rallied back to tie the game by the end of the third quarter, outscored the Blazers 22-11 in the final stanza. Diamond Thomas led all scorers with a career-high 24 points, 16 of which came after intermission. Chelsea Newman added a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds while Francesca Pinard and Jessica Shepherd finished with nine and eight points, respectively.

Emily Burr led Elms with 15 points while Mackenzie LaRochelle netted 10 of her 13 in the fourth quarter. Mariah Brown chipped in with nine points, six rebounds and five assists.

Elms got off to a 7-0 start and didn't trail in the opening period. Brown and Burr combined for nine points in the quarter as the Blazers led 14-11 after one.

Mitchell took its first lead of the day on a pair of free throws by Shepherd with 7:04 left in the half. However, the Mariners went scoreless over the next 5:23, and the Blazers reclaimed the lead behind a 10-0 run.

A pair of free throws by LaRochelle capped the first-half scoring as Elms took a 31-23 advantage into the locker room. The Blazers shot 42 percent in the half while holding the Mariners to just 32 percent.

Elms led 34-25 in the third quarter before Mitchell clawed back into the contest behind a 12-1 run. Shepherd drilled a three-pointer during the stretch to tie the game at 35-35, and Thomas followed with a jumper to give the Mariners their first lead of the half. Mitchell stayed in front until a three by Burr tied the game at 40-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

LaRochelle scored Elms' first eight points of the fourth and singlehandedly kept her team in the game. Her jumper with 4:33 to play put the Blazers ahead 48-47, but Mitchell responded with a 14-1 run over the next 4:09 to take control. Newman contributed four buckets during the stretch, and the Mariners pushed the lead to double digits at the free throw line in the final minute.

Kate McCormack dished out six assists to pace the Mitchell offense, which finished with 16 helpers on 22 field goals. The Mariners shot 35 percent for the game and a season-high 79 percent from the foul line, led by a 8-for-12 effort from Thomas.

Mitchell (8-8 overall, 7-4 NECC) will next play at Bay Path University on Tuesday, February 2 at 8 p.m. Elms (8-10 overall, 7-4 NECC) returns to action at home against Daniel Webster College on Tuesday at 6 p.m.