WBB Derailed at Wheelock

BOSTON – The Wheelock College women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in a 73-38 victory over visiting Mitchell College in New England Collegiate Conference play on Thursday night.

With the win the Wildcats improved to 5-7 overall (3-3 NECC) while the Mariners fell to 4-9 overall (4-2 NECC).

The first quarter got off to a slow start but saw the home team jump out to an 8-2 lead. After a lay-up by the visitors cut the deficit to 8-4, Wheelock reeled off seven straight points to take a 15-4 advantage. Still, Mitchell responded with a three-pointer by Tori Weatherwax and a lay-in from Jessica Shepherd to make it 15-9 by the end of the period.

Shepherd kept the Mariners close for the first six minutes of the second, drawing her team within three after draining a trifecta and knocking down a pair of free throws to make it 22-18. With 3:45 remaining in the half, the Wildcats took control. Michelle Woods and Katie Walsh combined for 11 points during an 11-0 spurt to close out the stanza and sent Wheelock into the break up 33-18.

The second half saw a continuation of the Wildcats' second quarter dominance as they rattled off eight consecutive points that ballooned their lead to 41-18. Wheelock led by as many as 30 in the third quarter and closed the contest with another 11-0 run to win 73-38.

The Wildcats held the Mariners to a season-low 19-percent shooting from the field while outrebounding their opponents 61-42, including 17-12 on the offensive glass.

Woods led all scorers with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and added three assists. Walsh had 17 points, a game-high 16 caroms, and two blocks. Brianna Hochwarter rounded out the Wheelock double-digit scorers with 17 points on 4-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc.

Shepherd led Mitchell with 19 points and added seven boards. Camille Staggers chipped in with a team-high 10 rebounds off the bench while Kate McCormack dished out a game-high four assists.

Mitchell will next host Lesley University on Saturday, January 14 at 3:00 p.m.