WBB Fends Off DWC in Fourth Quarter

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team came away with a 76-68 victory over Daniel Webster College on Thursday evening in a New England Collegiate Conference match-up at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Mariners used a 47-18 advantage in bench scoring to improve to 6-13 overall and 6-6 in league play. Camille Staggers, Alexandra Kolb and Allegra Jones all came off the bench to score in double figures alongside starter Ashleigh Beauford. Staggers netted a team-high 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting while Beauford added 15. Kolb and Jones finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively, and combined for 16 rebounds.

Natasha Santana led all scorers with 17 points to pace the Eagles (6-14 overall, 4-9 NECC). Kayla Free tacked on 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists while Briana Diggs added eight points and 12 rebounds. Escarlin Reynoso accounted for most of DWC's bench scoring with 16 points. 

Daniel Webster jumped out to a 6-0 lead as Mitchell struggled at the start, turning the ball over six times and missing one shot in the opening 3:00. A jumper by Jones finally put the Mariners on the scoreboard, and from there they rallied to finish the quarter with a 15-12 lead.

Mitchell outscored Daniel Webster 24-15 in the second quarter to carry a 12-point lead into intermission. A jumper by Jones closed out the first-half scoring with the Mariners on top 39-27. Beauford led all scorers with 11 points at the break while Jones had 10.

The Eagles cut into the deficit in the third quarter thanks to eight points from Santana. Daniel Webster whittled the margin down to two on her jumper with 2:07 to play in the period, and the score was 53-49 entering the final period.

Mitchell opened the fourth quarter with a layup from Staggers and a three by Kolb to bump the lead back to nine. Daniel Webster later got it down to a five-point game on a three by Santana with 4:48 remaining, but the Mariners responded with back-to-back jumpers by Kolb to quell the storm. A three by Jessica Shepherd in the final minute put the finishing touches on the win.

Mitchell will next play at Southern Vermont College on Saturday, February 4 at 1 p.m. Daniel Webster returns to action at home against Bay Path University on Saturday at 1 p.m.