Late Push Not Enough as WBB Falls to Lesley

NEW LONDON, Conn. – A strong second quarter was enough to propel the Lesley University women's basketball team to a 66-58 victory over Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center. 

Theresa Pereira and Linda Wallentine each scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Lesley attack. Pereira was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line and added five rebounds. Wallentine shot 7-for-12 from the field and also didn't miss at the charity stripe in five attempts. Dakota Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Lynx with 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.

Alexandra Kolb paced Mitchell with a season-high 19 points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds to record her first career double-double. Jessica Shepherd added 16 points while Camille Staggers came off the bench to chip in with eight.

Mitchell led 12-9 after the opening period and extended the margin to 18-12 midway through the second quarter. However, a five-minute scoring drought gave Lesley the chance to seize control, and the Lynx answered the bell with 19 straight points. Wallentine went off for 10 points during the spurt while Pereira added a pair of threes, and the result was a 33-23 lead for the visitors at intermission.

Lesley led by as many as 16 in the third quarter and carried an 11-point margin into the final stanza. Mitchell cut into the deficit late thanks to a flurry of three-pointers by Kolb, but the Lynx went 11-for-12 from the line in the final 43 seconds to seal the win.

The Lynx shot 32 percent as a team and held a 55-40 advantage on the glass. Abby Henderson contributed to the effort with 10 rebounds. Lesley attempted 37 free throws in the contest and held a commanding 27-8 edge in points at the line.

Mitchell (4-10 overall, 4-3 NECC) will next play at Newbury College on Wednesday, January 18 at 7 p.m. Lesley (4-9 overall, 3-4 NECC) returns to action at home against Bay Path University on Monday, January 16 at 5 p.m.