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Recap | Box Score
Nighthawks Fall Short of Mariners, 67-56
NEW LONDON, Conn. – A valiant second half comeback by the Newbury College women's basketball team was stopped short by Mitchell College as the Mariners held the Nighthawks at bay for the 67-56 victory Thursday evening. Sophomore center Catherine O'Connell (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) registered her 12th double-double o the season, tallying 17 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
Mitchell took its first lead of the game at 8-5 on a Kaylee Cerruto (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) three-pointer and never trailed again. The Mariners led by as many as 11 in the first half and took a 35-26 lead into the locker room at the break. Cerruto hit three treys in the stanza and led all scorers with 12 points at intermission.
The Nighthawks fell behind by 13 points early in the second half before making a push to get back into the game. Fields was the spark behind the comeback, scoring eight points during a 19-6 run that saw Newbury tie the game at 49-49 on a three-pointer by Kendra Bannister (Washington, D.C./Brooke Point) with 8:03 to go.
The Mariners answered right back on their next possession and regained the lead on a lay-up by senior Kailee Hyde (Derby, Conn./Derby), who finished with a season-high six points in 14 minutes off the bench. Mitchell then scored its next nine points from the free throw line, and a jumper by Hyde stretched the lead to 10 at 62-52 with 2:49 remaining. The Mariners outscored the Nighthawks by an 18-7 margin over the final eight minutes to seal the win.
Mitchell shot just 33 percent from the floor as a team but forced 27 turnovers to the tune of a 31-8 advantage in points off turnovers. Senior Alix O'Neil (New London, Conn./New London) led all scorers with 23 points and added 10 rebounds to lead the Mariners (11-6 overall, 8-2 NECC). Sophomore Cerruto contributed 14 points and three assists.
Newbury sophomore Jalisa Fields (Bronx, N.Y./St. Michael Academy) registered her 300th point of her career, following up O'Connell with 14 points. Junior guard Shayla White (Dorchester, Mass./Wellesley) netted her 200th point of the season, rounding out the trio in double figures, tallying 11 points.
Newbury returns to action at Elms College on Saturday February 5th at 2:00pm while Mitchell will host Daniel Webster College on Saturdayat 1 p.m.
- Game story provided by: David Longolucco, Sports Information Director - Mitchell College
- Game photo by: Samantha Yanofsky
