PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- First year guard Abby Fernandes (Assonet, Mass.) poured in a career-high 25 points to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's basketball team to a 65-57 victory over host Johnson & Wales University this evening at the Wildcat Center in Providence, R.I. The Lyons have won three in a row and improve to 4-3 on the season, while the Wildcats fall to 0-5.

The Wheaton defense held Johnson & Wales to just 38.2% (21-55) shooting for the game and held a 39-37 rebound margin.

Fernandes scored 17 of her personal-high points total in the second half and was 11-20 from the floor to go with seven rebounds and an assist for the Lyons. Her scoring total is the most by a Wheaton first year since Mikayla Pucci scored 30 points against Cabrini University on November 17, 2017. Senior fowrard Sadie Shore (Portsmouth, N.H.) contributed with 13 points, seven boards, a steal and matched her career-high with three blocks, while first year guard Greta Minos (West Roxbury, Mass.) came off the bench to net nine points, grab six rebounds, hand out four assists and come up with a steal.

Sophomore guard Naheema Walker (Staten Island, N.Y.) led the Wildcats with 13 points on 5-7 from the floor to go with three rebounds, two assists and a steal and sophomore forward Victoria Russian (Milford, Mass.) netted 12 points in addition to six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Junior guard Jennell Martin (Springfield, Mass.) joined her benchmates' contributions with nine points, three boards and an assist. 

The teams battled back and forth throughout the first half that saw eight lead changes and neither team lead by more than three points at any time. Wheaton held a 30-29 edge at the intermission.

The Lyons finally broke out in the second half, scoring nine of the first 10 points of the third quarter, paced by six points from Fernandes, to take a 39-30 lead with 5:54 left in the period. Wheaton maintained its advantage throughout the quarter and took a 46-38 into the final period of play.

The Lyons began the fourth quarter with a strong effort as well. The visitors put together a 7-2 stretch, led by six points from Fernandes, to increase their lead to 53-40 for its largest advantage of the night with 7:32 to play in the game. First year guard Maiyah Johnson (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) ignited a 13-2 run with a three-pointer for Johnson & Wales, as the home team closed to within 55-53 with 3:09 showing on the fourth quarter clock. Wheaton put the game away in the final minutes with seven straight points to take a 62-53 cushion with 46 ticks remaining.

The Lyons return to action on Wednesday, December 1 when they host Lesley University at Emerson Gymnasium for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off, while the Wildcats