Mount Ida College women's basketball senior Cherie Parisi (South Attleboro, MA/Attleboro) tallied 17 points and seven boards in a 94-60 non-conference loss against visiting Western New England College Thursday night in Newton, Massachusetts. The Mustangs fall to 5-5 overall while the Golden Bears improve to 4-3.
Turnovers (29) killed the Mustangs the entire evening leading to many of the Golden Bears points paired with a tough shooting (28.8%) night is a recipe for disaster. The hosts had the lead once the entire contest on the first basket of the contest on a lay-in by Parisi up 2-0. That would be the last time Mount Ida would have the advantage while the visitors crept away slowly throughout the first half up nine after two free throws by WNEC junior Trish Breault (Millville, MA/Blackstone-Millville Regional) leading 21-12.
The Mustangs cut the advantage down to three immediately following trailing 21-18 after two back-to-back trifecta's by sophomore Jeileen Rivera (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) and freshman Ashley White (Salem, MA/Salem).
The small offensive spurt by the hosts didn't last long while the visitors powered an 8-0 run pulling ahead by 12 points (30-18) after two free throws by Golden Bear senior Caitlin Powers (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) with 3:38 to go in the half. The visitors eventually headed into the locker room with a 39-39 lead.
The Golden Bears built up a huge lead throughout the second half with no answer from the Mustangs with a barrage of offense led by Powers who notched a game high 20 points. Mount Ida did not have a good second half while the visitors continued to pile on the points eventually capturing a 94-60 win.
Along with Parisi, the Mustangs saw Casimiro and senior Ashley Boyd (Hanson, MA/Hanson-Whitman) added 10 points apiece and combined for 11 caroms. Rivera added eight points with three steals.
The visitors were led by Powers with a game high 20 points with four boards and three assists. Freshman Shelby Van Huysen (Killingworth, CT/Killingworth-Haddam) chipped in 15 points while teammate Savino added 12 points with eight boards. Freshman center Elena Radzikowski (Medway, MA/Medway) tallied 10 points with six boards.
The Mustangs will have their final game of the semester next Thursday against visiting Anna Maria College starting at 6:00 p.m.