WestConn Shoots Past WBB

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College suffered a 77-61 setback to Western Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference women's basketball matchup at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Genesis Torres netted a career-high 31 points on 9-for-16 shooting to lead the Colonials. She also finished with eight three-pointers—one shy of the school record—and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Jancy Sherwood added 13 points and five assists while Hannah Maghini came off the bench to chip in nine points.

Amina Wiley paced Mitchell with 21 points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Marissa Sweeney contributed 11 points and eight while Kelsey Hernandez and Francesca Pinard finished with nine points apiece.

Neither team led by more than five points in an opening quarter that featured five ties and three lead changes. A three-pointer by Sherwood in the final seconds gave the visitors a 23-20 advantage heading into the second period.

Torres, who had three treys in the first stanza, continued with the hot hand in the second. She bookended a 12-4 run with a pair of deep threes that extended the WestConn lead to 35-26 with 5:02 remaining in the half.

The Mariners fell behind by 11 before fighting back behind a 9-2 spurt in the final 3:22 of the half. Sweeney provided a three and a layup during the stretch as Mitchell pulled within four at 41-37 by intermission. The Mariners shot 54 percent in the half while WestConn checked in at 40 percent. However, the Colonials had eight of their 14 field goals come from beyond the arc.

Mitchell's offense slumped in the third quarter as WestConn built the lead back up to double digits. However, the Mariners closed the period with back-to-back buckets by Pinard and Wiley to trail by seven with 10 minutes to go.

A layup by Wiley pulled the Mariners to within five with 8:08 remaining in the game, but it would as close as they would get. The Colonials responded with seven straight points—capped by a three from Gabrielle Hurlbert—and led by double digits the rest of the way.

Mitchell (10-8 overall) will next play at Newbury College on Tuesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. WestConn (9-10 overall) returns to action at home against UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday, January 30 at 5:30 p.m.