Mariners Move Past Elms in NECC First Round

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Third-seeded Mitchell College coasted to an 82-46 victory over sixth-seeded Elms College on Tuesday night in the first round of the 2020 New England Collegiate Conference Women's Basketball Championship at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell, which improved to 16-10 overall, advances to the semifinals and will next play at second-seeded New England College on Thursday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m. The Mariners have now reached the semifinals in six of the past seven years.

Kelsey Hernandez led all scorers with 18 points and handed out five assists to pace the Mariners. Sam McKenna added 14 points and four rebounds while Le'Sandra Turner chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. Amina Wiley added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds to round out the Mariners in double figures.

Elms ends the season with an overall record of 9-17. Lashaunte White, Tatyana Correia and Rachel Granger scored eight points apiece to lead the Blazers. 

Despite never trailing in the contest, it took Mitchell most of the opening quarter to find its rhythm. The lead was only four before the Mariners closed the period with a 7-2 spurt to lead 20-11 heading into the second. 

A 10-0 run in the early stages of the second quarter got the Mariners going as Wiley contributed a pair of buckets and Jessica Lohneiss banged a three. Mitchell outscored Elms 23-9 in the stanza en route to a 43-20 lead at intermission. Hernandez led all scorers with 10 points at the break.

The lead grew to as many as 37 in the second half as the Mariners continued to dominate the paint, outscoring the Blazers to the tune of 42-12 for the game. Inanna Rice and Lohneiss provided a boost off the bench with nine and eight points, respectively. Mitchell also turned 21 Elms turnovers into 25 points.

Mitchell improved to 6-11 all-time in the conference tournament and evened its record against Elms at 2-2. 

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