O’Connell Leads Nighthawks Over Wildcats

The Newbury College women’s basketball team defeated the visiting Wheelock College Wildcats, 55-42, Tuesday evening in NECC play.  Sophomore center Catherine O’Connell (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) scored 13 points and 16  rebounds in the victory with junior guard Maya Spratling (Dorchester, Mass./Cathedral) leading the Wildcats with 10 points and 3 steals.   

Wheelock College jumped out front early in the first half, 12-6, highlighted by the first of two three-pointers by senior guard Joy Holliday (Milford, Mass/Hopedale).  Newbury College went on a 10-2 run beginning with three-pointers by Morganna Machado (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) on two consecutive possessions, both assisted by Shayla White (Dorchester, Mass./Wellesley).  White tied her career game-high with 6 assists.  A steal at mid-court and lay-up by White tied the score 14-14.  The Nighthawks went ahead on the next possession, 16-14, with White going coast-to-coast to lay in an easy bucket.  Newbury never looked back holding the Wildcats to 2 total points for the last five minutes of the first half.

The Nighthawks began the second half by scoring 10 unanswered points, extending their lead to 41-22.  Strong defense by sophomore forward Jasmine Bishop (Waterville, ME/Waterville Senior), four points scored and 2 steals, held the Wildcats to zero points early in the second half.  A three pointer by Machado, assisted by Ashley Monterio (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin), capped the scoring streak.  A jumper by Wildcats’ sophomore guard Sarah McCaffrey (East Taunton, Mass./Taunton) with 14:18 on the clock were the first points scored.

With 6:33 remaining, Wheelock College began a 9-2 run and was able to shorten the lead to 9 points, 53-42.  A late bucket by O’Connell, assisted by Felicia Jones (Randolph, Mass./Bluehills Regional), ended the late comeback.   

- Game photo by: Samantha Yanofsky

Newbury College improves to 9-13 and 7-6 in the NECC while Wheelock College falls to 4-14 and 3-8 in the conference. The Nighthawks return to the hard-court this Saturday February 12^th when they host Mitchell College at 12:00pm on Senior Day.