Women’s Basketball Closes Semester with Loss to Eagles

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team closed out their semester with a 67-54 non-conference loss to St. Joseph's University (L.I.) on Friday night at the Danzi Center.

Senior Yasmine Santos (Pawtucket, R.I.) recorded her seventh double-double in eight games to begin the season, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Santos added two assists and two steals, while senior Jermia Dumas (Bridgeport, Conn.) chipped in 14 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Fellow senior Alexia Watson (Stamford, Conn.) was the only other Mitchell player to finish in double-figures scoring, adding 11 points to go along with five rebounds, two assists, and three steals.

The Mariners jumped out to a five-point lead two minutes into the game when Watson drilled a three-pointer, and held a 7-2 advantage shortly after following a Santos made layup. The Golden Eagles responded with a 12-0 run, which included three straight baskets by senior Lanyah Ford, and never trailed again, carrying an 11-point lead into the second quarter and a 37-23 edge into halftime.

Mitchell battled back and played their best stretch of basketball during the third frame, which they won 16-13. The Mariners were able to trim the deficit to seven-points when Alexia Watson was fouled and made both shots from the free throw line with 1:55 on the clock, but the Golden Eagles answered with back to back baskets to close the stanza. The Golden Eagles kept up the pressure and jumped up by 15-points early in the fourth, but the Mariners attempted one final late push and cut the score to 60-52 when sophomore Jamya Beddoe (New London, Conn.) made a layup with two and half minutes remaining. That was as far as the comeback would come, however, as St. Joseph's responded with seven consecutive points, pulling away for their seventh victory of the season.

Lanyah Ford paced the Golden Eagles with a game-high 21 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Julianna Knice scored 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field and 6-for-11 from three-point range while Casey Travers added 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

The Mariners shot just 34% from the floor, 33.3% from downtown, and 61.1% from the free throw line. Mitchell outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 42-40, yet turned the ball over 19 times which led to 23 points off turnovers by the home team.

The Mariners (2-6, 0-1 GNAC) will break for the holiday before returning to action at home on Wednesday, January 3rd, when they host crosstown rival Coast Guard Academy in non-conference action at 6:00 pm. The Golden Eagles (7-2, 4-1 Skyline) jump back into action following the Christmas holiday, hosting Connecticut College on Friday, December 29th.