Mariners Breeze by Bay Path
NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women’s
basketball team shot a season-high 50 percent en route to an 84-72
victory over Bay Path College on Tuesday night at the Yarnall
Athletic Center.
All five Mitchell starters scored in double figures led by a
game-high 25 points from freshman Sheanna James (Waterbury,
Conn./Kaynor Tech). The rookie turned in her fourth straight
20-point performance on 12-for-20 shooting and added seven
rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 37 minutes. Kayla Skiffington (East Longmeadow, Mass./East
Longmeadow) led Bay Path with 24 points on 9-for-16
shooting and finished with a game-high 18 rebounds and seven
assists.
Bay Path (6-15 overall, 6-11 NECC) was hot out of the gate,
connecting on its first five shots to jump out to a 13-4 lead in
the opening minutes. The Wildcats moved the ball around well and
had four different players score a basket during the stretch, with
Skiffington leading the way with five early points.
Mitchell (7-16 overall, 6-11 NECC) quickly made up the deficit
behind a 10-2 run over the next two minutes. Freshman Zilka Navarro
(Waterbury, Conn./Kennedy) was the catalyst, hitting three shots
and scoring seven points during the spurt as the Mariners clawed
back to within a point at 15-14.
Just over two minutes later, Mitchell went ahead on a jumper by
James and never looked back. The Mariners used a 16-2 run to extend
the lead to double digits and led 30-19 with 6:20 to go in the half
following another basket by James, who scored nine points in the
stretch and 15 in the stanza.
Mitchell led by as many as 18 points before taking a 43-28 lead
into the locker room at the half. Brittney Alexander (Enfield, Conn./Enrico
Fermi) had 12 points at the break to pace the
Wildcats.
The Mariners never let their lead dip below double digits in the
second half and coasted to victory. Bay Path fought hard to close
the gap to 11 with 47 seconds left to play but couldn’t get
any closer.
Mitchell hit 10 three-pointers in the contest, half of which came
from junior Kaylee Cerruto (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) who
finished with 23 points. Senior Bianca Young (Bridgeport,
Conn./Kolbe Cathedral) recorded a double-double with 13 points and
a team-high 10 rebounds while Navarro and classmate Hannah Smith
(Wakefield, R.I./South Kingstown) chipped in with 10 points each.
Navarro also handed out a season-high eight assists.
Brittney Alexander finished with 16 points and five assists while
freshman Toni Alexander (Enfield, Conn./Enrico
Fermi) added 10 points and five helpers. Taylor
Riley (Colchester, Vt./Burlington) rounded out the Bay
Path players in double figures with 12 points.
The win was crucial for Mitchell’s chances at earning a
postseason berth. The Mariners moved into a tie with Bay Path and
Southern Vermont College for sixth place in the New England
Collegiate Conference standings with one game to play. All three
teams own 6-11 conference marks, though only two will qualify for
the upcoming NECC Championship. Mitchell split the regular season
series against Southern Vermont and won both meetings against Bay
Path.
Bay Path returns to action at home against Regis College on
Saturday at 1 p.m. Mitchell will close out the regular season
at home against Becker College on Saturday, February 18 at 2
p.m.
BoxScore: http://www.mitchellathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2011-12/files/mcw23.htm