The Mount Ida College women's basketball team captured their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory against visiting St. Joseph College (CT) in a 79-66 win this Saturday in Newton, Massachusetts. The Mustangs improve to 6-13 overall and match their win total from last season with the win now standing at 1-6 in conference play. The Blue Jays drop to 3-16 on the season and 1-6 in the GNAC.
The visitors led in the opening four minutes up 7-4 off a jumper from senior Gina Morales (East Hartford, CT/East Windsor). The Mustangs powered a 10-0 run immediately following to go ahead by nine up 16-9 capped off by a Katie Morvan (Northbridge, MA/Northbridge) jumper.
The Mustangs maintained a small advantage for the next four minutes, but the visitors came storming back to pull ahead by four on a lay-in by sophomore Nathalie Mastarreno (Glastonbury, CT/East Catholic) leading 31-27 with 2:01 to go in the half. After the teams exchanged baskets, Mount Ida regained the momentum and took over the lead after a 7-0 run to lead 36-31.
Freshman Brittany Dolloff (Hollis, NH/Hollis-Brookline) was responsible for the comeback swishing three consecutive trifecta's to help her team take over. The squads headed into the locker room with the hosts holding the 38-33 advantage at the half.
The second half was all about the Mustangs leading by nine points in the opening 4:09 up nine at 46-37 on a Hannah Blum (Raleigh, NC/Broughton) lay-up. Mount Ida held a double digit advantage for most of the second half ahead by a game high 16 points up 69-53 with 3:16 to go in the game.
The hosts closed out the game and cruised to the 79-66 victory good for the first GNAC win of the season. The Mustangs also matched their win total from last year as they look to build more victories next week.
Mount Ida had four players in double figures with freshman Jeileen Rivera (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) leading the charge with 17 points and five rebounds, her highest total of the season. Junior's Nicole Casimiro (Lee, NH/Oyster River) and Ashley Boyd (Hanson, MA/Hanson-Whitman) chipped in 14 a piece with Boyd notching 10 rebounds and five blocks good for her first double-double of the year. Blum tallied 11 points as well.
The Blue Jays were led by sophomore Ilaria Schiano (Wallingford, CT/Sacred Heart) with a game high 35 points and 12 boards. Mastarreno chipped in 12 points and three caroms.
The Mustangs will host non-conference Becker College this coming Tuesday starting at 6:00 p.m.