Strong Second Half Fuels WestConn Over WBB

DANBURY, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team dropped a 106-63 decision to Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday night in a non-conference match-up at The O'Neill Center's Feldman Arena.

Jancy Sherwood racked up a game-high 24 points while Kaitlyn LaBonte chipped in with 22 to lead WestConn. With the win, the Colonials improved to 4-2 overall, while the Mariners dropped to 1-5.

WestConn used stifling defense as it forced 38 turnovers while committing just 18. The Colonials finished 17-for-37 from three-point range, while the Mariners were held to just a pair of made shots from beyond the arc.

Ashleigh Beauford paced Mitchell with a season-high 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Haley Garcia and Ariana Carter added 13 and 11, respectively. Carter and Marissa Sweeney each grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Mariners on the glass. 

After a sluggish start, the Colonials built a 21-13 lead in the opening quarter when Gabrielle Hurlbert buried a trifecta. Mitchell responded with a 13-3 run that began late in the quarter and carried into the second stanza. Jessica Lohneiss knocked down a mid-range jumper to round out the spurt, giving the Mariners a 29-28 lead with 4:18 remaining before halftime.

WestConn countered with a 15-6 flurry to regain the advantage and headed into the locker room ahead 43-35 as Sydney Gouveia drained a shot from downtown off a nifty feed from LaBonte.

The Colonials came to life in the third quarter as they pounded out a 26-7 run. Asiah Knight – who finished with a game-high 12 rebounds – hit a lay-up to build up a 27-point advantage. It was more of the same in the fourth quarter as WestConn cruised to the win.

Mitchell will next play at Newbury College on Saturday, December 9 at 1 p.m.