WBB Overcomes Slow Start at Elms

CHICOPEE, Mass. -- The Mitchell College women's basketball team erased a first-quarter deficit en route to a 74-65 victory over Elms College on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference play at Picknelly Arena.

The Mariners trailed 19-11 after the opening period and fell behind by as many as 11 before rallying back to tie the game right before halftime. Mitchell then pulled in front midway through the third quarter and never trailed again, outscoring the hosts by an 18-15 margin in the final stanza to wrap up its fourth straight win.

Kelsey Hernandez netted a game- and season-high 26 points to go with four steals and three assists. The junior recorded her second straight 20-point game by going 5-for-6 from beyond the arc and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. Francesca Pinard added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds while Amina Wiley chipped in 18 points and five boards.

Molly Moulton paced Elms with 26 points while Angelica Peguero-Flores added 11 off the bench.

The Blazers got off to a slow start until Samantha Lynes provided a spark. Lynes entered the game at the five-minute mark and dropped in nine points, all from long range, before the end of the first quarter. Her final triple put Elms up eight heading into the second period.

Mitchell trailed 30-20 with 3:41 left in the half before closing the gap behind a 13-3 run. Five Mariners contributed points during the spurt, which ended with a Pinard jumper that tied things at 33-33 in the final seconds before intermission.

Just over three minutes into the second half, Hernandez splashed a triple that put Mitchell on top 38-37. After an Elms bucket tied the score a minute later, Pinard came back with a layup that put the Mariners in front for good. Hernandez quickly followed with another three, and the visitors built a six-point lead by the end of the third.

Hernandez, who scored eight points in the third quarter, added another eight over the final 10 minutes of the contest. Wiley also provided some big buckets in the fourth and contributed six points in the stanza.

Mitchell (13-8 overall, 12-2 NECC) will next host Lesley University on Thursday, February 7 at 6 p.m.