WBB Falls to Newbury

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Newbury College's starting lineup powered it to a 75-55 victory over Mitchell College on Saturday afternoon in a New England Collegiate Conference women's basketball showdown at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The starters accounted for all but six points for the Nighthawks. Destiny Spears led all players with 22 points and became Newbury's all-time leading scorer in the contest. She also finished with a game-high 12 rebounds to go with seven steals and three assists.

Savannah Olsen and Jaymesha Sanders also recorded double-doubles for the Nighthawks, who improved to 13-7 overall (10-1 NECC). Olsen netted 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Sanders had 11 points and 10 boards. Tatianna Occena rounded out the Newbury scorers in double figures with 13 points.

Haley Garcia led Mitchell (8-11 overall, 7-3 NECC) with 13 points. Ashleigh Beauford netted nine points before fouling out and Francesca Pinard added seven points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Newbury led 39-22 at intermission as Spears and Olsen each scored 12 points in the opening half. Mitchell didn't help its own cause with 18 turnovers and shot just 26 percent.

Spears became the program's all-time leading scorer early in the second half, surpassing Catherine O'Connell '13 (1,339 points) with a bucket in the lane. She ended the day with 1,343 career points and still has five games remaining in the regular season to add to the record.

Mitchell trailed by as many as 33 in the third quarter but fought back in the fourth. The Mariners shot 41 percent in the final stanza and outscored the Nighthawks by a 19-11 clip.

Newbury attempted 41 free throws in the contest and outscored Mitchell 21-8 at the charity stripe. The Mariners tied a season high with nine three-pointers led by three apiece from Garcia and Beauford.

Mitchell will next play at Bay Path University on Tuesday, January 30 at 8 p.m. Newbury returns to action at home against Wheelock College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.