WBB Pulls Away Down the Stretch vs. Becker

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College came away with a 51-44 victory over Becker College on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference women's basketball showdown at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Allegra Jones led all scorers with 13 points as the Mariners improved to 5-11 overall and 5-4 in league play. Jessica Shepherd and Camille Staggers each chipped in with 10 points while Jordan Lohneiss added eight.

Cassidy Harrison finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals to pace Becker (6-8 overall, 6-2 NECC). Ciara McKissick contributed 11 points and eight boards while Adrianna Dowdy supplied six points and seven caroms.

Mitchell led by five with 1:44 left to play in the opening quarter before a free throw by McKissick and a three-pointer by Harrison closed out the scoring and pulled Becker back within one. The Hawks kept it close for much of the second period, until the Mariners ended the half with eight straight points to lead 31-23 at the break. Lohneiss supplied a pair of three-pointers during the run while Jones buried a jumper before the halftime buzzer.

Becker kept it close in the second half but never caught up. The Hawks got within two in the third quarter before Tori Weatherwax answered with a jumper to keep the Mariners on top.

In the fourth, Becker trailed by three after a free throw by McKissick made it 42-39 with 6:29 to play. The Hawks then missed a potential game-tying three on one possession, and on the next Staggers came up with a huge steal for the Mariners and raced the length of the floor for an uncontested layup.

Staggers later connected on a jumper to pump the Mitchell lead to seven with 4:10 remaining. McKissick kept the Hawks in the game with a three-point play, but baskets by Shepherd and Jones down the stretch brought the margin to nine.

Staggers and Lohneiss—along with five points and 10 rebounds from Ashleigh Beauford —helped Mitchell to a 23-6 advantage in bench scoring. Staggers shot 5-for-8 and also added nine rebounds and four steals while Lohneiss was 3-for-3 from the floor.

Mitchell will next play at Regis College on Thursday, January 26 at 6 p.m. Becker returns to action at home against Daniel Webster College on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m.