WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) women's basketball team's defense stymied host Wellesley College in a 58-29 victory this afternoon in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference victory at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse in Wellesley, Mass. The Lyons improve to 7-13 overall and 2-7 in NEWMAC play, while the Blue fall to 3-14 and 1-6.

The Wellesley point total is the second-lowest allowed by Wheaton in school history and the fourth opponent in school annals to score 29 or fewer points against the Lyons. The last opponent to score 29 points against Wheaton was Clark University during the 1978-79 season. The Lyons held the Blue to single digit points in three of four quarters and held Wellesley to just 23.9% (11-46) shooting from the floor, while owning a 39-24 rebounding advantage. Wellesley committed just one more turnover than Wheaton (18-17), but the Lyons boasted a 21-5 points off turnover differential.

First year guard Abby Fernandes (Assonet, Mass.) scored 11 points on 5-9 from the floor to go with seven rebounds, three assists and a steal for Wheaton, while classmate Greta Minos (West Roxbury, Mass.) also netted 11 on 5-8 from the field in addition to pulling down six rebounds, handing out an assist, coming up with a steal and blocking at shot in 22 minutes off the bench. Senior forward Sadie Shore (Portsmouth, N.H.) contributed with 10 points, four rebounds, three steals and an assist.

Senior Valentina Morakis (Long Island, N.Y.) led the Blue with nine points, six rebounds and a pair of steals, while first year Allison Koziarz (New Rochelle, N.Y.) knocked down a pair of three-pointers and scored eight total points to go with two boards.

The Lyons owned a 4-2 lead before ripping off nine straight points, including five from Shore, to take a 13-4 advantage with 2:10 to play in the opening quarter. Wheaton took a 16-4 lead into the second period of play.

The visitors scored the first nine points of the second quarter, including five from senior guard Alexis Romer (Delray Beach, Fla.), to take a 25-4 cushion with 7:31 showing on the second quarter clock. Wellesley scored all nine of its points in the quarter during a 9-2 stretch that pulled it to within 27-13 with 1:26 to go in the half. Shore converted a pair of free thows for the final points of the quarter and a 29-13 lead for the Lyons at halftime.

The Blue scored eight of the first 10 points of the third quarter, led by a pair of three-pointers from Koziarz, to cut the deficit to 31-21 with 6:23 to go in the quarter. Wheaton responded by closing out the quarter on a 13-4 run, fueled by five points from Fernandes, to take a 44-25 lead into the final quarter of play. 

The Lyons held their hosts scoreless through nearly the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, while scoring eight straight points, capped by a triple from Romer to give them a 52-25 cushion with 6:41 showing in the quarter. Sophomore forward Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) made a lay-up for the final points of the game and Wheaton's largest lead with a final score of 58-29.

The Lyons return to action on Monday, February 14 when they host Fisher College for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at Emerson Gymnasium, while Wellesley remains at home to host NEWMAC foe Clark University on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m.