SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Despite an early deficit, Wheaton College used 17 points from first year guard Natalie Wind to upended Mount Holyoke College, 70-34 in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's basketball action on Saturday. Wheaton improves to 4-16 on the season and 2-9 in conference, while the Lyons are now 2-16 overall and 0-11 in NEWMAC play.
To go along with Wind's game-best 17 points (New Canaan, Conn./King School), she also had a game-high five assists and three steals. Junior guard Jill Bodreau (Thompson, Conn./Marianapolis Prepatory) had a strong game as well, posting 11 points and four boards, while classmate and fellow guard Ruthie Zientek (Holmdel, N.J./Northfield Mount Hermon) had a team-best nine rebounds.
For MHC, first year guard Kathryn Violette (Yokosuka City, Japan/Yokohama International School) had one of her best games of the season, notching a game-high 17 points. Senior captain Xajaah Williams-Flores (The Bronx, N.Y./Holderness School) also had a dominant effort on the glass with a game-best 13 rebounds, five being offensive. First year guard Katlyn Grover (Bernardston, Mass./Stoneleigh Burnham School) had eight points, knocking down two treys. This marks her eighth game in a row with a made three-pointer.
MHC started quickly in the first quarter after Violette scored the first points of the game, four seconds after the tip with a layup. Wheaton countered with three points to take a 3-2 lead, but Violette connected on a fast break jumper to tilt the score back in Mount Holyoke's favor.
Violette once again scored to give MHC a 10-5 advantage with 5:32 to go. The visiting Lyons began its comeback after two consecutive three's from Wind to slim the deficit to just one. The baskets sparked a run for Wheaton as it was able to secure a 24-15 lead heading into the second.
The visitors carried that momentum into the second quarter, scoring the first nine points to go up 33-15 midway through the frame. Sophomore forward Leah Hodges (New haven, Conn./Kolbe Cathedral) scored three points on a layup and free throw with 4:51 to go, but five points from Wind gave Wheaton a 46-20 advantage going into halftime.
Grover came out hot in the third quarter, scoring the Lyons first five points, including her second three of the game at the 7:58 mark. Later in the third, Mount Holyoke held Wheaton scoreless for almost four straight minutes, in the midst of a quick 4-0 spurt after baskets from Hodges and Violette.
Bodreau broke the cold streak with a layup at the :55 point, but Violette made a basket of her own on the next possession to end the third with a score of 56-31 in favor of Wheaton. The visiting Lyons used 10 points off of the bench in the fourth to secure the win.
Both teams are back in action on Wednesday for NEWMAC contests. Mount Holyoke travels to WPI for a 7:00pm matchup, while Wheaton will be at Emerson for a 7:30pm tip-off.
