WBB's Season Ends in NECC Semifinals

HENNIKER, N.H. – Third-seeded Mitchell College saw its season come to an end at the hands of second-seeded New England College on Thursday night, falling 79-75 in the semifinals of the 2020 New England Collegiate Conference Women's Basketball Championship at Bridges Gym.  
 
The Pilgrims improved to 20-6 overall and move on to the title round to face off against top-seeded Eastern Nazarene College. Mitchell finished the season with an overall record of 16-11.

NEC's Rene Hudson went off for a game-high 36 points and shot 7-for-16 from long range. Kayla Goldring came off the bench to contribute 10 points.

Mitchell's starting five accounted for all but six points in the contest. Kelsey Hernandez netted 22 points in the final game of her collegiate career to lead the charge, and Le'Sandra Turner filled the stat sheet with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block. Amina Wiley added 13 points and eight rebounds while Sam McKenna chipped in 10 points.

The Mariners scored first and were able to maintain a lead for most of the opening quarter as they were up 12-9 midway through period. The Pilgrims used a 9-0 run over the final minutes of the quarter to grab a 20-14 lead, although McKenna banged a three at the buzzer to trim the deficit to three heading into the second.

The competitive play carried over into the second stanza as both teams traded baskets in the early minutes. NEC then went on a 7-0 run to open up a 33-22 lead with 4:14 to play in the half. The Pilgrims, who shot 59 percent for the half, went into the locker room with a 40-28 advantage at the break . 

The Pilgrims led by as many as 15 in the second half, but the Mariners fought their way back to keep the game competitive. Mitchell cut the margin to 51-45 with 1:28 to play in the third but trailed 56-48 heading into the final period.

The Mariners kept chipping away in the fourth and eventually got within two at 62-60 with 5:29 to go. Minutes later a bucket by Ramzie Jones made it a one-point game, although NEC responded quickly behind a three by Samya Robinson to go up 68-64 with 2:11 to play. Hernandez scored Mitchell's final eight points in the last 56 seconds of the game, but Hudson made four free throws down the stretch to keep the Pilgrims in front.