SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - Behind a double-digit effort from three players, the Wheaton College basketball team defeated Mount Holyoke College, 104-41, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon. The win moves the visiting Lyons to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while the homestanding Lyons are now 0-10 and 0-4 in the NEWMAC.
Pacing the effort for Wheaton was sophomore forward Mikayla Pucci (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton), who recorded a game-best 24 points over 20 minutes of action. She also posted eight rebounds, adding an assist and a steal. Junior guard Natalie Wind (New Canaan, Conn./King School) notched 19 points with four caroms, and assist and two steals, while classmate and forward Sara McLeman (Auburn, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) had 10 points. First year forward Hannah Peterson (Scituate, Mass./Marshfield) led all players with two blocks in the contest.
For Mount Holyoke, sophomore forward Annika Brooks (Portland, Maine/Waynflete) recorded a career-high 21 points, while adding a game-high nine rebounds and a steal. First year forward Mikayla McEwen (South Hadley, Mass./Berkshire School) notched a career-high nine points, adding five rebounds and two steals, while junior captain Katlyn Grover (Bernardston, Mass./Stoneleigh Burnham School) posted seven points.
The visitors opened the game on a strong note, limiting the home team to just seven points. Pucci led the way for Wheaton, scoring 12 of her 24 points in the opening 10 minutes of play. The second quarter saw the Lyons of MHC bounce back, adding 11 points including four from Brooks to pull to within 48-18 at halftime.
An eight-point effort from Pucci and Wind in the third quarter helped Wheaton tack on another 30 points, once again seeing solid defense as MHC was held to just seven points in the frame. In the final quarter, Wheaton continued to press as Peterson and sophomore guard Carli Koffinke (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) each came off the bench to add six points apiece. Mount Holyoke found a rhythm over the final quarter as McEwen nailed a pair of three-pointers, while Brooks also put six points up on the board.
The visitors proved too strong over the final 3:38 of the game, limiting the home team to just one bucket. Wheaton shot 59.7% from the field for the contest, holding Mount Holyoke to a 28.1% clip.
Mount Holyoke is back on the court on Tuesday when it travels to Simmons for a 7pm contest against the Sharks. Wheaton hits the hardwood once again on December 16th, heading to UMaine-Farmington for a 2pm tilt.
