WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior Amber Legare drained a layup with two seconds left to lift the Mount Holyoke College basketball team to a 61-59 win at Clark University in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action. With the win, the Lyons improve to 5-13 and 2-11 in conference play. The Cougars slip to 8-10 and 5-8 in the NEWMAC.
Trailing 29-27 at halftime, the Lyons persistence paid off in the second half as they pulled to within one (33-32) at the 17:48 mark on a three-pointer by junior captain Kate Karraker. MHC continued to keep it close and pulled it even at 15:07 as Legare sank a layup to tie it at 35-all.
The pace continued back-and-forth over the following minutes and the Lyons grabbed the lead as Karraker poured in another three and nailed an ensuing free throw to take the 40-38 advantage with 13:20 remaining in the contest.
Clark powered its way back in, retaking a 45-44 lead on a three-point jumper from Annmarie Fransen, but MHC senior Jennine Vizcaino pulled it back in the visitors favor (46-45) on a jumper at 8:55.
The two teams continued to keep it close with neither squad leading by more than two, until five straight points from Legare pushed it to a 57-53 game with 4:27 left on the clock.
Holding a slim 59-57 lead with 2:32 to play, Mount Holyoke saw its advantage evaporate as 
free throws by Esther Cohn found their mark to tie it at 59-all with 1:11 to go.
With second ticking away, the Lyons gained control on a Clark turnover and Legare played the hero as her layup fell in with two seconds left to seal the win for MHC.
Legare led all scorers with a career-high 23 points to go with 13 rebounds and a block. Karraker chipped in with 18 points, while junior Nicole DeMarchena added eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and a game-best three blocks. Vizcaino had a game-high six assists.
For Clark, Emily Reilly posted 21 points with four steals, while Cohn chipped in with a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Mount Holyoke returns to the court on Wednesday in a 7pm contest at Smith. Clark is also in action on Wednesday at Coast Guard at 7:30pm.
