SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - The Mount Holyoke College basketball team closed out its 2018-19 season on Saturday afternoon, shouldering a tough loss to Emerson College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at the Mildred S. Howard Gymnasium. The Lions move to 17-8 and 11-5 in conference play with the 75-35 win, while the Lyons finish 1-24 and 0-16 in the NEWMAC. Saturday's match also marked Senior Day, in which MHC recognized the members of the Class of 2019 from both squads in a pre-game ceremony.
Emerson was paced by a consistent effort across the lineup as all 10 players recorded at least six points in the contest. Junior guard Natalie Clydesdale (Pittsburgh, Pa./South Park) paced the effort, coming off the bench to record 10 points and five boards. Classmate and fellow guard Kate Foultz (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Newbury Park) added nine points with three caroms, a game-high four assists, two steals and a block, while sophomore forward Sam Boyle (Scotts Valley, Calif./Scotts Valley) had nine points, four boards, an assist, a game-best three steals and a block. Three other players added eight points in the contest, including senior forward Charlie Boyle (Scotts Valley, Calif./Scotts Valley), who added five boards, an assist and a steal.
For the Lyons, junior captain and guard Katlyn Grover (Bernardston, Mass./Stoneleigh-Burnham School) recorded a game-high 15 points, added three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Sophomore guard Raquel Fitzpatrick (Providence, R.I./Providence Country Day School) posted seven points with four boards and an assist, while senior guard Zahkeyah Allen (Philadephia, Pa./Freire Charter School) had five points, a board, an assist and two steals. Sophomore forward Julia Grey (Atlanta, Ga.) added a team-best five rebounds, while first year forward Mikayla McEwen (South Hadley, Mass./Berkshire School) recorded four boards, an assist, a steal and the squad's lone block.
The visiting Lyons opened the first 20 minutes of the contest with a commanding lead, holding the homestanding squad to just eight points, while posting 34 of their own. Pacing the Emerson effort was sophomore guard Rachel Davey (Saratoga, Calif./Saratoga) and Foultz, who each recorded four points in the first and second quarters, respectively.
Emerson saw Clydesdale come off the bench in the third quarter, dropping in six points in addition to buckets from six other players. Mount Holyoke countered as Grover sank eight points, including a perfect 2-of-2 from three point range, but the visitors took a 58-22 advantage into the final frame.
MHC found momentum in the fourth quarter as four players drained points, but six points off the bench from first year guard Julia Mallon (Katonah, N.Y./The Harvey School) saw Emerson maintain control for the victory.
Cover photo courtesy of Emet Marwell '18
