Women’s Basketball Outlasts Mitchell College, 63-60, Advances to Third Straight NECC Championship Title Game

WESTON, Mass. – Elms College junior forward Denisha Parks (Fall River, Mass.) poured in a game-high 28 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the second-seeded Blazers out lasted No. 3 Mitchell College, 63-60 in Friday evening's New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship tournament semifinal women's basketball game at Higgins Court on the campus of Regis College.

With the win, Elms improves to 18-9 on the season and will move on to its third consecutive NECC Championship title, which will be played on Saturday, March 1 against No. 1 Regis at 2:00 p.m. Earlier in the night, the Pride handed No. 4 Becker College a 74-50 defeat to advance to its second straight NECC Championship title game. Mitchell concludes its season 16-10 overall.

The Blazers jumped out to a quick start and led 14-7 by the 14:22 mark of the half much thanks to the hot shooting of Parks and junior forward Gianna Youngblood (East Freetown, Mass.).

Mitchell's Jessica Shepherd (West Hartford, Conn.) went 4 for 6 from behind the arc in the first half, one of which she hit with 6:50 remaining to bring the Mariners to within two points. Seconds later, following an Elms turnover, Amanda Garcia (New Britain, Conn.) knocked down a jumper to tie the game at 23-23 with 6:22 to play.

The teams traded baskets to close out the last few minutes of the half, as Elms headed into the break with a narrow 36-34 edge. Parks poured in nine points in the last four minutes to give her 20 first half points, while Shepherd led the charge for the Mariners with 12 points in the first stanza.

The second half began much like the first half ended, with both teams trading points. A good jumper by senior guard Ellen Donohue (Southington, Conn.) gave Elms a five-point cushion with 17:13 to play before a Diamond Thomas (Hartford, Conn.) shot and Kate Mulloy (Gardner, Mass.) layup cut the score to one point (43-42) with 13:43 left.

The Blazers began to pull away as junior forward JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) sank a pair of free throws to spark a 9-0 run that gave Elms a 59-49 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

With the score at 63-55 in favor of the Blazers with 2:58 to play, Caycee Williams (Torrington, Conn.) went on a quick 5-0 run of her own to bring Mitchell to within three points with 2:10 to play.

That would be the last of the scoring on the night for both teams as the Mariners were unable to convert any of its offensive opportunities as Elms held on for a 63-60 victory.

Pickett registered a double-double for the Blazers notching 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Youngblood finished with nine points and six rebounds.

Shepherd led the Mariners with a team-high 19 points on 6 for 10 shooting from three-point range. Williams and Thomas also pitched in by combining for 25 points on the night for Mitchell.