BOSTON, Mass. - Junior captain Kate Karraker boasted a game-high 22 points, including six shots from beyond the arc, to lead the Mount Holyoke College basketball team to a 54-38 victory over Simmons College in non-conference action. With the victory, the Lyons kick-off 2014 with a victory and are now 4-6 overall. The homestanding Sharks slip to 1-8 on the season.

In addition to Karraker, the Lyons saw junior Amber Legare add 14 points, while classmate Nicole DeMarchena had a game-best 13 rebounds to go along with game-high's in assists (3), steals (4) and blocks (2).

In the first half, the Lyons took an early lead off strong play by Karraker, who posted nine points and Legare, who added seven.  DeMarchena made her presence known in the paint, picking up five rebounds and adding six points. The Sharks closed the gap behind a late half surge from sophomore Jen Janiak, who went 4-5 from behind the arc adding 13 points as the Sharks closed out the half down 24-21.

MHC continued to dominate in the second half, led by an opening trey from Karraker. The Lyons opened a double-digit lead, going up by 11 (32-21) after a jumper by DeMarchena. A pair of jumpers by Karraker and a shot from Legare pushed it to a 39-23 advantage with 14:20 remaining.

Karraker laid down another shot from outside the arc to give MHC a 21-point (44-23) lead. Shots from the line by Xajaah Williams-Flores later made it a 48-26 margin with 9:30 on the clock, but the Sharks rebounded as a three-pointer for Janiak and a later jumper from Gracie Rolfe cut the deficit to 16 (48-32) with 6:28 to play.

Despite closing the gap down to 12-points (50-38) on a jumper from Liz Brasa, Legare closed out the offense with a jumper and a pair of free throw makes to seal the victory.

The Lyons return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Babson for a 7pm game against the Beavers.