Mariners Hold Off Newbury for 62-51 Win

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College women's basketball team held off a strong second-half charge from Newbury College to pull out a 62-51 victory on Thursday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

Mitchell (11-11 overall, 11-4 NECC) also clinched the third seed for next week's NECC Championship and will host a quarterfinal game on February 23. Four Mariners finished in double figures led by 16 points from freshman Kaylee Cerruto (Torrington, Conn.). Shayla White (Dorchester, Mass.) led Newbury (8-13 overall, 6-9 NECC) with 17 points while Jalisa Fields (Bronx, N.Y.) added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Mitchell never trailed in the contest and opened up a double-digit lead behind a 13-4 run with 6:41 to go in the first half. The Mariners held the Nighthawks to 27 percent shooting in the stanza and led 30-20 at the intermission. Cerruto and senior Jennifer Iglesias each had eight points by the break while White netted 11 of Newbury's 20 points.

The Nighthawks wasted little time cutting into the deficit in the second half, scoring 12 of the first 16 points to pull within two at 34-32 with 13:43 to play. Newbury closed the margin to one on a layup by Fields a few minutes later, but Mitchell countered with six straight points to regain control.

Newbury made one final charge in the final six minutes, trimming a nine-point deficit to three with 4:17 remaining. Mitchell, however, turned up its defense over the final minutes and allowed only one field goal in Newbury's final nine attempts from the floor.

The Mariners shot 32 percent for the contest and held a 32-22 edge in points in the paint. Sophomore Destiney Harris (Bristol, Conn.) finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds while Iglesias added 14 points and six boards. Junior Alix O'Neil (New London, Conn.) chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds to round out Mitchell's double figure scorers.

Newbury shot 30 percent from the floor and held a 53-50 edge on the glass. Catherine O'Connell (Quincy, Mass.) pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds and contributed seven points.

Mitchell will wrap up regular season play at home against Becker College on Saturday, February 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Yarnall Athletic Center. Newbury will next host Wheelock College on Saturday at 2 p.m.

- Game story submitted by David Longolucco, Sports Information Director - Mitchell College

- Game photo provided by Samantha Yanofsky