WBB Bounces Back vs. Dean

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team bounced back for a 92-64 victory over Dean College on Tuesday night in New England Collegiate Conference action at the Yarnall Athletic Center. 

The Mariners, who had a six-game winning streak snapped last time out, improved to 14-9 overall and 9-3 in league play. Kelsey Hernandez led the way with 24 points and five assists and shot 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Amina Wiley added a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds to go with three steals, and Sam McKenna and Le'Sandra Turner chipped in 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Makayla Rudder paced Dean (6-18 overall, 5-9 NECC) with 26 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Alexah Potter also had a big game with 21 points and seven boards before fouling out late.

The first quarter was all Hernandez as she netted 14 points to stake Mitchell to a big lead. All four of her three-pointers came in the stanza, with her final one beating the buzzer to give the Mariners a 23-13 lead heading into the second quarter.

McKenna drilled a pair of threes in the second quarter as Mitchell expanded the lead. At one point the Mariners were 7-for-10 from deep and later settled in with a 43-25 lead at intermission.

Wiley stepped up in the third quarter with 10 points and six rebounds, although Rudder nearly matched her on the other end with nine points and five boards. Still, the Mariners outscored the Bulldogs by six in the period and led 71-47 heading into the final quarter. 

Mitchell took its largest lead of the game following a three-pointer by Leilani McClellan that made it 87-54 with 4:16 to play. The Mariners shot 51 percent for the game and finished 8-for-16 from long range. 

Dean shot 39 percent but went just 3-for-17 from deep, with all three makes coming from Stephanie Conrad. Rudder, who scored 16 points after the break, shot 7-for-19 from the field and 12-for-14 at the line.

Mitchell will next host Becker College on Thursday, February 20 at 6 p.m. Dean returns to action at Emerson College on Saturday, February 22 at 1 p.m.