Second Half Surge Pushes Mitchell Past Women's Basketball

Kaleigh Anderson (@KaleighAnd1)

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Elms College Women's Basketball team fell Saturday afternoon to host Mitchell College, 62-51, in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action. With the loss the Blazers drop to 8-9 on the season and 6-4 in the conference, while the Mariners rise to 7-8 overall and 6-4 in the NECC.

Play opened up slow as both squads were unable to capitalize on early opportunities. At the 7:51 mark, junior Emily Burr (East Hartford, Conn.) found the basket with an easy layup lighting up the scoreboard in favor of the Blazers. This would spark momentum as senior JC Pickett (Chicopee, Mass.) would harness two and gain the bonus single after a Francesa Pinard (Arlington, Mass.) foul sent her to the line. Elms would keep the run going as senior Mariah Brown (Windsor Locks, Conn.) chipped in two free throws to the effort. At the 5:36 mark, Pinard found the basket for Mitchell putting them on the board with a jumper followed by a bullet in three-point range. However, a Burr deep outside three silenced the Mariners newfound momentum and upped the Blazers lead to five with minutes left to play. Although the Mariners fought back Elms would continue with this energy into the second owning a 14-11 tally.

The second started off quick for Elms with a Pickett steal just ten seconds into the quarter. The Mariners were able to capture the first basket off the hands of Tiana Edwards (Hartford, Conn.) shaping things up to a one point game. Brown would then go on a four-point run easily netting two jumpers in the back to back action.  Diamond Thomas (Hartford, Conn.) connected for the Mariners then found the hoop seconds later upping the score to 18-17 Elms at the 7:04 tally. However the Blazers would continue on to collect their largest lead of the night starting at the 2:20 mark after a Burr three found its home followed by a junior Heather Bailey (Williamstown, VT.) jumper that helped pushed the tide in Elms direction assembling a 28-19 lead. Chelsea Newman (Manchester, Conn.) went on a four-point stint to close the half for Mitchell and the Blazers would head into the locker room holding the 31-23 score.

As play got underway in the third both teams tallied strikes from the free throw line with Elms clinching four of its nine points of the quarter at the stripe, while Mitchell totaled six of their 17. The Mariners continued to explode from there as they went on a 12-point stretch headed by Thomas with four. At the 2:12 mark, Thomas hit the stripe once again netting two before being sent back to the line to sink a third giving Mitchell the advantage. Burr was able to hit a far three from the outside to push both squads into the fourth on a tied note and 40-40 scoreboard.

Elms struck first at the start of the quarter with sophomore Mackenzie LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) netting a quick jumper. A three from Jessica Shepard (West Hartford, Conn.) spun the back and forth game to its next tilt as Thomas then collected a swift two for Mitchell.  Larochelle then went 6-for-6 on the floor combatting back Thomas and Chelsea Newman strikes closing Elms deficit to 48-49, however the Mariners would continue on a 13-to- 1 stint sending them away with the victory and a 62-51 score.

The Mariners were paced by Thomas who collected 24 points going 8- for- 19 from the field. Pinard tallied nine points and four rebounds in the victory.

The Blazers were paced by Burr who totaled 15 points going 3-for-9 in the three point zone. Larochelle tallied 13 points in the effort.

The Blazers totaled 30.4% from the field (17-56), including 25.0% from the three-point line (3-12), and 77.8% from the foul line (14-18). Mitchel shot 35.5% from the floor (22-62), 30.0% from three point range (3-10), and 78.9% from the foul line (15-19).

The Blazers will host Daniel Webster for a conference tilt Tuesday, February 2^nd at 6:00 p.m. The Mariners will travel to Bay Path University February 2^nd for an 8:00 p.m. start.