WBB Falls Short at USJ

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Mitchell College women's basketball team came up on the short end of a 69-66 final against the University of Saint Joseph on Saturday afternoon at the O'Connell Center.

Mitchell trailed by as many as 12 in the second half but rallied back to have an opportunity at the end. Down by two with 11 seconds remaining in the game, the Mariners had a chance to tie or take the lead on their final possession. Mitchell inbounded the ball on the sideline and then ran a screen on the block to try and free up Amina Wiley. However, the Blue Jays double teamed Wiley in the post, leaving a wide-open Alexia Watson on the back side of the play. The skip pass to Watson sailed just over her outstretched arms and gave possession back to USJ.

Wiley finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Mariners. Sam McKenna added 15 points and four boards while Chelsea Marcano chipped in 12 points. USJ's Cheyenne-Mone Smith led four Blue Jays in double digits with a game-high 19 points.

Neither team led by more than five points in a closely-contested opening half. A three-pointer by McKenna in the final minute pushed the visitors back in front, and Mitchell took a 35-34 lead into the halftime intermission.

Saint Joseph outscored Mitchell 24-12 in the third quarter to take control. Taylor Verboven scored eight of her 17 points in the stanza to fuel the Blue Jays.

A three by Watson started the comeback in the fourth for the Mariners, jump-starting a 7-0 run that cut the deficit to four with 4:47 remaining. Three minutes later, Watson made a lay-up to tie the game at 66-66 with 1:42 to go.

On USJ's next possession, Smith grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the put back to give the Blue Jays a two-point lead. Mitchell's next two possessions resulted in a turnover and a miss, but Wiley came up with a big steal on the defensive end to give the Mariners one final chance in the closing seconds.

Mitchell shot 41 percent for the contest and held a commanding 57-37 edge on the glass. Inanna Rice came off the bench to grab 10 rebounds while Watson finished with nine.

Mitchell will next host USJ on Thursday, March 11 at 6 p.m.