Late Rally Not Enough as WBB Falls to No. 7 Newbury

WESTON, Mass. - Third-seeded Mitchell College saw its season come to an end in the semifinals of the 2016 New England Collegiate Conference Women's Basketball Championship, falling 55-51 to seventh-seeded Newbury College on Friday night at Higgins Court.

Mitchell trailed by as many as 19 points but nearly rallied all the way back in the fourth quarter. The Mariners, who end the season with an overall record of 16-10, closed to within two points but came up just short.

The Nighthawks move on to Saturday's title game against top-seeded Regis College, which defeated fourth-seeded Elms College in the first semifinal game. Newbury, which will make its first finals appearance, also becomes the first seven seed to advance to the title game.

Savannah Olsen scored 12 of her team-high 15 points from the free throw line as Newbury built a big first-half lead. Katelyn Roeser and Tyler Barbato also finished in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Seniors Amanda Garcia and Diamond Thomas led Mitchell, which shot just 26 percent in the contest. Garcia finished with game highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds while Thomas added 15 points. 

Mitchell dug a big hole in the first half and couldn't climb out. The Mariners shot 3-for-27 (11 percent) in the opening half and trailed 28-14 at the break.

In the second half, Newbury built the lead to as many as 19 and led by 18 heading into the final period. However, Mitchell came roaring back in the fourth, scoring the first 15 points of the stanza to pull within three at 45-42 with 1:50 to play.

On the next Newbury possession, Isabelle Pafford drained a jumper on her only attempt of the game to right the ship. The Nighthawks had missed their previous eight attempts of the quarter and had turned the ball over six times. 

A Garcia jumper with 33 ticks left on the clock got Mitchell as close as 49-47, but Newbury shot 6-for-8 from the foul line in the late stages to stay in front.