WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Sophomore guard Mary McClintock (Essex Junction, Vt.) poured in a career-high 20 points to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's basketball team over host Eastern Connecticut State University, 62-58, this afternoon at Geissler Gymnasium.
The Lyons improve to 4-9, while the Warriors dip to 4-9 on the season.
Wheaton trailed early in the game, but a big second quarter gave it the lead for good. The Blue and White dominated the boards with a 37-22 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards to help an 11-4 disparity in second chance points for the Lyons. Wheaton shot 37.7% (23-61) for the game, while Eastern Connecticut State made 41.3% (19-46) of its shots from the floor.
McClintock made her first collegiate start and was 8-14 from the field, including 2-3 from three-point range and added a personal-best eight rebounds to go with three assists and a pair of steals for the Lyons. Junior guard Kennis Jasperson (Sacramento, Calif.) knocked down three trifectas to give her nine points in addition to two rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench, while sophomore forward Cheyenne Colbert (Brookline, N.H.) ripped down a career-high 12 rebounds and added four points, a block and an assist in 24 minutes as a reserve.
Senior center Taylor Salato (East Haven, Conn.) led all scorers with 34 points on 12-21 shooting and was also 10-11 from the free throw line for the Warriors. She added six rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals. Sophomore forward Marissa Nudd (Colchester, Conn.) contributed with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Wheaton trailed 13-11 following the first quarter, but ripped off 10 straight points early in the second period to ignite a 21-5 run that swung the contest into the Lyons' favor. McClintock netted seven points, while Jasperson drained a pair of three-balls to fuel the stretch that gave Wheaton a 32-18 advantage with 3:07 to play in the quarter. Eastern Connecticut was able to respond with five straight points to close within 32-23, before the Lyons took a 34-23 cushion into the break.
Nudd converted a layup at the 6:50 mark of the third quarter to pull the Warriors to within 40-31, but a 9-4 stretch led by five points from junior guard Madeline Duwe (Greenville, S.C.), resulted in Wheaton's largest lead at 49-35 with 3:59 showing on the third quarter clock. Eastern Connecticut closed out the quarter with seven of the final eight points to cut the deficit to 50-42 at the end of three quarters of play.
Colbert made a layup to increase the Lyons' lead to 52-42 with 8:07 remaining in the game and Wheaton later maintained a 61-53 margin with just 23 ticks left in the quarter. The Warriors made one last push, scoring five of the final six points of the game, including a triple from Nudd with five seconds to play before the Lyons came away with a four-point victory.
Wheaton opened the game with a 7-2 lead, backed by four points from junior forward Regan Keyter (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). Eastern Connecticut put together a 10-2 run, fueled by eight points from Salato, to take a 12-9 margin with 54 seconds left in the opening period. The home team led, 13-11, at the end of the quarter.
The Lyons return to the hardwood on Monday, January 13 when they travel to nearby Bridgewater, Mass. to take on Bridgewater State University for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off, while the Warriors host Little East Conference rival Keene State College on January 14 at 6:00 p.m.
