SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - Powered by a game-best 17 points from junior guard Caitlin Aguirre, the Wellesley College basketball team recorded a 66-28 victory over Mount Holyoke College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Blue move to 4-2 and are now 1-1 in conference play. The Lyons slip to 0-8 and 0-2 in the NEWMAC.
In addition to her 17 points, Aguirre (El Paso, Texas/Eastlake) added three rebounds, three assists and a game-best six steals. Sophomore forward Alyssa Cho (Hillsborough, Calif./San Mateo) posted 10 points and five boards with an assist and a steal, while junior guard Emily Kopp (King Ferry, N.Y./Southern Cayuga) had four rebounds, two steals and a game-high six assists.
For Mount Holyoke, sophomore Annika Brooks (Portland, Maine/Waynflete) had recorded the game's only double-double, notching 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. She also added two steals. Sophomore guard Raquel Fitzpatrick (Providence, R.I./Providence Country Day School) added eight points and four rebounds with a steal, while first year Mikayla McEwen (South Hadley, Mass./Berkshire School) had two steals and a game-best two blocks.
The Blue came out firing to open the contest, owning a 17-2 advantage after the first quarter with six points coming from Aguirre. Wellesley got balanced scoring in the second frame, but the Lyons countered as four points from Fitzpatrick helped close the gap to 30-10 at halftime.
In the third quarter, both teams drove the ball in their own zones as Aguirre laid down seven points, while first year forward Caitrin Spottiswoode (Storrs, Conn./EO Smith) had six points. With 5:21 to go in the quarter, Spottiswoode nailed a layup inside, the Lyons countered as Brooks converted a shot of her own at 3:58 to make it 45-16.
A jumper from Cho opened the final quarter, but Brooks put down four points to chip away at the advantage and draw the home team closer. Despite some late momentum, the Wellesley offense proved too strong as six different players recorded points and its defense held MHC to six points in the fourth to lead the visitors to victory.
Both teams return to conference play on Wednesday with Mount Holyoke traveling to Springfield (7pm), while Wellesley hosts Emerson (7pm).
