Defense propels Mitchell over Bay Path, 61-39
NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College women's basketball team used stellar team defense to force 32 turnovers in a 61-39 victory over Bay Path College on Tuesday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.
Senior forward Jessica Hunt (Madison, Conn.) led all players (4-15 overall, 1-10 NECC) with game highs of 20 points and 17 rebounds despite playing the entire second half with four fouls.
Sophomore Destiney Harris (Bristol, Conn.) led the Mariners (8-10 overall, 8-4 NECC) with 19 points and fell two rebounds shy of a triple-double with eight boards and a career-high 11 steals. Junior Alix O'Neil (New London, Conn.) also finished in double figures with 14 points and added six boards.
Harris started the game with a flurry, scoring Mitchell's first 11 points to erase an early deficit. The Mariners never trailed after taking their first lead at 9-8 on a jumper by Harris with 14:27 to go in the half.
Later in the half, the Wildcats trailed by only three following a layup by Hunt with 2:21 remaining. The Mariners, however, ended the half with a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead, 33-23, into the locker room at the break. Harris scored 15 points and recorded six rebounds and six steals to pace Mitchell in the stanza while Hunt and junior guard Katie Begin (Weare, N.H.) combined for 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Harris picked up five more steals in the second half before coming out of the game with 12 minutes to play. She played only 24 minutes and shot 8-of-14 from the floor. She has posted a double-double in her last five games and has eight on the season.
The Mariners led by as many as 24 points in the second half and coasted to the victory. Mitchell shot 37 percent from the floor and held a 29-2 edge in points off turnovers. Junior Marjorie Oliveira (Waterbury, Conn.) added a season-high eight points while senior Jen Iglesias (Waterbury, Conn.) chipped in with eight points and two assists.
Bay Path shot 32 percent from the field and held a 46-42 advantage on the glass. Begin finished with nine points and four rebounds.
Mitchell will next play at Daniel Webster College on Thursday, February 11 at 7 p.m. Bay Path will host Newbury College on Thursday at 5 p.m.
Story Courtesy of Mitchell Sports Information
