WBB Holds Off Bay Path

HOLYOKE, Mass. - The Mitchell College women's basketball team picked up its sixth win in seven games by a 61-54 final over Bay Path University on Tuesday night at Holyoke Community College.

Chelsea Newman scored a season-high 17 points and added a team-high nine rebounds to lead the Mariners, who improved to 9-8 overall and 8-4 in New England Collegiate Conference play. Diamond Thomas came off the bench to add 10 points while Amanda Garcia and Francesca Pinard each chipped in eight.

With the score tied at 13-13 after the first quarter, Mitchell took control behind a 10-0 run to start the second. Thomas got things rolling with a layup, and Jessica Shepherd and Ashleigh Beauford hit back-to-back threes before a basket by Garcia capped the stretch. The Mariners later scored 10 of the final 12 points of the stanza to lead 33-22 at the break.

Bay Path cut into the deficit in the third quarter and trailed by only one heading into the fourth. Mitchell never fell behind, though the Wildcats once tied the game at 49-49 with 4:24 to play. Newman answered with a layup on the ensuing possession to give the Mariners the lead back for good, sparking a 12-5 stretch to end the game.

Mitchell will next play at Daniel Webster College on Thursday, February 4 at 5:30 p.m.