SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Eight players garnered at least two points, including a game-best 18 from junior forward Kiley Shoemaker, to lead Wheaton College to a 57-43 victory over Mount Holyoke College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday. With the win, Wheaton moves to 15-6 overall and 10-2 in conference play, while MHC is now 6-15 and 3-9 in the NEWMAC.
In addition to her game-high in points, Shoemaker (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) added 10 rebounds to complete the double-double. She also chipped in with a game-best four assists and three blocks, while adding a steal. Senior forward Abbie Brickley (Sandy, Utah/Skyline) posted 14 points and three boards, to go along with three assists and a block, while three others chipped in with six points apiece.
For the homestanding Lyons, senior forward Amber Legare (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comprehensive) notched 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season. She also added a block and two steals. Junior guard Genelle Green (Windsor, Conn./Miss Porter's School) had 13 points and seven boards with two assists and two steals, while senior forward Nicole DeMarchena (Miami, Fla./Amherst Regional) added a game-best three blocks and three steals with two assists and six caroms.
It was a close battle to start the game as Wheaton opened up a five-point (10-5) lead on a trey from senior guard Laura Pierce (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy), but MHC responded as junior guard Kelly Stewart (La Cañada, Calif./La Cañada) pulled the home team back to within two on a three of her own at 14:36.
Mount Holyoke strived to keep it close, but Wheaton continued to capitalize, going on a 10-0 run to mark it a 29-12 margin at halftime. Pacing the way during the stretch was Brickley, who nailed three consecutive buckets over a one minute span to stretch the advantage. Wheaton held MHC to just 15.6% (5-32) shooting in the opening 20 minutes, while posting a 40.0% (12-30) margin of their own from field goal range.
In the second half, the visitors carried the momentum right in, going up by 19 (31-12) on a jumper from Shoemaker. MHC cut the deficit to 11 on a trey from Green and dropped the lead to nine a minute later as Legare's bucket at 14:59 made it a 33-24 Wheaton lead. The visiting Lyons continued to lead on the hot shooting of Shoemaker, but Mount Holyoke was able to pull within eight (38-30) on a layup from Legare.
Wheaton pulled ahead with a 14-0 run, taking their largest lead of the game (22) at the 5:50 mark when Shoemaker's layup made it a 52-30 game. MHC pulled back to within 14 (55-41) on a three from Green, but were unable to get any closer as the visiting Lyons held strong to the ball over the final seconds.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday at 7pm as Mount Holyoke heads to MIT and Wheaton travels to Coast Guard.
