NEW LONDON, Conn. – Sophomores Erin Morton (Norway, Maine) and Stephanie Mini (Topsfield, Mass.) each scored in double figures to lead the Wentworth women's basketball team to its first win of the season, 61-53, at Mitchell College Saturday afternoon.
The Leopards, who picked up their first win of the season, opened the game with a 10-2 run and never trailed. Morton finished with a game-high 18 points and added five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Classmate Mini finished with 17 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Kelsey Hernandez (New Britain, Conn.) paced Mitchell with 17 points and seven rebounds while Amina Wiley (New Rochelle, N.Y.) chipped in 11 points and eight boards. The Mariners shot just 35 percent from the floor and went 1-for-13 from long range.
After jumping out to the early lead, the Leopards eventually built the margin to as many as 15 points in the second quarter following a three-pointer by senior Francesca Matira (Ledyard, Conn.). However, the Mariners closed out the half strong, scoring 11 unanswered points to whittle the margin down to three at 29-26 by the halftime buzzer.
A bucket by Wiley on Mitchell's first possession of the second half cut the deficit to one, and moments later Kate McCormack (South Kingstown, R.I.) tied the game at 29-29 on a free throw. The Leopards responded with seven straight points to regain control as Mini connected on back-to-back buckets and Sam McGibbon (Pembroke, Mass.) drilled a three-pointer.
Each time the Mariners got close the Leopards had an answer. A steal by Wiley led to a fast-break layup for Jessica Lohneiss (West Hartford, Conn.) with 3:07 left in the third that brought Mitchell to within four, but on the ensuing possession Mini dropped in a trey to stretch the lead back to seven.
Wentworth led by eight entering the fourth quarter and saw the margin shrink to six with 7:03 to go. However, another three by McGibbon and a jumper by junior Michelle McCloskey (Madison, Conn.) brought the lead back to double digits, and Mitchell never got within striking range over the final 5:00.
Wentworth (1-10) is off until the New Year, and resumes conference action on Thursday, January 3 at Roger Williams.
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