Wheaton stifles Lyons' offense in NEWMAC loss

Sofia Francisco led all players in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots in Mount Holyoke's loss to Wheaton on Jan. 22, 2025. (RJB Sports file photo)
Sofia Francisco led all players in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots in Mount Holyoke's loss to Wheaton on Jan. 22, 2025. (RJB Sports file photo)

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- Wheaton College stifled the Mount Holyoke College basketball team, holding the Lyons to season lows in scoring and field goal percentage in a 55-25 NEWMAC victory for the visiting Lyons over the host Lyons.

Wheaton (5-11, 1-1 NEWMAC) notched its first conference victory while holding Mount Holyoke (4-12, 0-2 NEWMAC) winless in conference play. Wheaton rose to 43-10 all-time over Mount Holyoke.

Mount Holyoke was held to a .175 field goal percentage (10-57), including 1-17 from three-point territory, and the Lyons were 4-8 from the free throw line. Wheaton made 17-22 shots (.773) at the foul line, 17-66 (.258) from the field and 4-16 (.250) from three.

Madeline Duwe drained a 3-pointer after an offensive rebound and an assist from Kiki Walters to put Wheaton ahead to start the game. A pair of free throws by first-year Ania McMichael (Glastonbury, Conn.) and a 3-pointer by sophomore Hannah Goen (New London, N.H.) tied the game at 5-5, before Mireille Tona scored five straight points for Wheaton for a 10-5 lead. After a jumper by McMichael made it 12-7, Wheaton finished the period with five straight points on a pair of free throws by Kennis Jasperson and a three-point play by Mary McClintock, for a 17-7 Wheaton lead after one period.

Back-to-back jumpers by Duwe and Regan Keyter opened up a 24-11 Wheaton lead midway through the second quarter, and another jumper Duwe in the last minute of the half gave Wheaton a 28-13 lead at halftime.

Keyter made a three from a Walters assist to start the second half. Sophomore Sofia Francisco (Boston, Mass.) answered with a jumper with with 9:24 remaining in the quarter, and Mount Holyoke was held scoreless for the rest of the period as Wheaton's lead expanded to 41-15 behind seven points from Keyter in the period.

Francisco and senior Cal McGonagle (Yarmouth, Maine) scored four points apiece as Mount Holyoke scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Wheaton grew its lead to as many as 32 points late in the period.

Keyter led Wheaton with 11 points, while McClintock paced the visitors with 10 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Francisco had game-high totals of 12 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots for Mount Holyoke.

Both teams return to NEWMAC action Saturday afternoon, as Wheaton plays at Smith at 1pm and Mount Holyoke plays at Clark at 2pm.