WBB Cruises Past Elms

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team turned in a strong performance in an 80-63 victory over Elms College on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell (2-4 overall, 2-1 NECC) shot 48 percent as a team and committed a season-low 16 turnovers. Francesca Pinard netted a career-high 20 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to post her second double-double of the season. Camille Staggers came off the bench to add 14 points while Jessica Shepherd checked in with nine. 

The trio of Nakia Mabin, Mackenzie LaRochelle and Alexandra Marques paced the Blazers (4-3 overall, 2-1 NECC). Mabin finished with 16 points and eight rebounds while LaRochelle added 14 points and eight boards. Marques contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Elms led 17-13 after the opening period, but Mitchell countered with the first nine points of the second and never trailed again. The Blazers later pulled within one on a three-point play by Mabin with 1:08 to go in the half, but the Mariners closed the stanza with a 7-0 run to lead 35-27 at the break. Pinard had a hand in all seven points during the stretch, scoring four herself and assisting on a three-pointer by Jordan Lohneiss.

The Blazers scored the first six points of the second half to whittle the deficit back to one. A jumper by Shepherd ended the run, and the Mariners switched to full-court pressure to change the tempo. The strategy produced four turnovers over the next 3:00, and the Blazers connected on only one field goal attempt in the final 7:50 of the quarter. 

Mitchell led 55-41 after three and pumped the lead to as many as 21 in the final period. The Mariners shot 48 percent as a team and recorded assists on 18 of 30 field goals. Kate McCormack led all players with six assists.

Mitchell enjoyed a 48-8 edge in bench scoring. In addition to production from Staggers and Shepherd, the Mariners also received contributions from Lohneiss (8 points), Suzanne Vachon (7) and Ashleigh Beauford (6).

Mitchell will next host Western Connecticut State University on Tuesday, December 6 at 7 p.m. Elms returns to action at home against Western New England University on Saturday, December 10 at noon.