Women's Basketball Bounces Back Against SVC

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College picked up a 54-44 victory over Southern Vermont College on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference women's basketball showdown at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Allegra Jones and Jessica Shepherd scored 16 points apiece to lead the Mariners (3-8 overall, 3-1 NECC). The two also grabbed eight rebounds each while Jones also added six steals. Chloe Longe paced the Mountaineers (1-8 overall, 1-3 NECC) with 14 points and eight boards.

Neither team led by more than six points in the first half. Mitchell led 12-10 after the opening quarter and outscored SVC 15-12 in the second to hold a 27-22 advantage at intermission. Jones led all scorers with 11 points at the break.

Both teams struggled early in the second half as a three-pointer by Shepherd accounted for the only offense of the first five minutes. Longe finally broke the drought for SVC with back-to-back buckets that cut the deficit to 30-26 with 4:09 remaining in the third. However, the Mariners responded with 10 straight points over the next 3:27 to extend the margin to double digits. Shepherd and Jones combined for seven points in the stretch while Jessica Lohneiss also added a three ball.

The Mountaineers trailed by 11 heading into the final stanza but chipped it down to three following a jumper by Danielle Biggers with 5:00 to go in the contest. The Mariners answered back with a quick basket by Jones after she was left unguarded on an inbounds play, sparking another 10-0 run that essentially sealed the victory for the home team. 

Mitchell shot just 23 percent as a team but made up for it by forcing 34 turnovers. Kate McCormack finished with six points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists while Tiana Edwards grabbed seven rebounds. 

Mitchell will next play at Daniel Webster College on Tuesday, January 10 at 5:30 p.m. Southern Vermont will next play at Newbury College on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.