Mount Ida College women's basketball junior guard Jeileen Rivera (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) recorded her second double-double of the season and her third consecutive game with double digit rebounds adding 18 points and 13 boards en route to a 70-58 non-conference victory over visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts. Junior transfer Shannon Wood (Gorham, ME/Bryant University) was outstanding as well adding a game high 25 points connecting on three trifecta's and an impressive 9-14 shooting from the floor also adding eight rebounds and five assists. The Mustangs win their second straight improving to an overall record of 2-4 while the Leopards snap a two game winning streak falling to 4-3. Neither squad has yet to indulge in a conference bid so far this season.
Wentworth came out strong firing off a 9-0 run in the opening three minutes of the first half finished on a three point play the hard way by Leopard sophomore Jordan Biggar (Beverly, MA/Manchester-Essex Regional).
The Mustangs countered with a 14-1 run immediately following to take their first lead of the contest at the 12:16 mark after another three point play the hard way this time by Mount Ida freshman Abigail Fedigan (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) up 14-10.
The hosts lead was short lived taking the advantage back over a minute and a half later up 26-20 following two successful free throws by Leopard senior Kirsten Vallone (Avon, NY/Avon Central) with 6:19 to go before the break.
Mount Ida eventually cut the lead back to one point after Wood drained her second trifecta of the day trailing 28-27 with 4:33 to go in the first half. The visitors eventually re-inflated their advantage back to six points following a couple of mistakes by the Mustangs in the final minute heading into halftime trailing 39-33.
The Leopards had trouble holding onto the advantage in the beginning of the second half watching Mount Ida reel off a 9-2 run in the opening six minutes (13:57) finished off by two good free throws by Mustang freshman Alicia Ward (North Reading, MA/North Reading) up 44-41.
For the next five minutes the squads exchanged the lead three times with solid play on either sides of the ball and impressive shooting for both teams. Mount Ida eventually regained their momentum taking over the game after a 15-0 run to put the Mustangs in a great position leading by a game high 12 points (62-50) with 2:10 to go in the contest.
It was all but over at this point while the Leopards started the fouling process to put the Mustangs at the charity stripe. Mount Ida hit eight of 12 free throws down the stretch to solidify the 70-58 non-conference victory good for their second win of the season.
Along with the impressive individual performances from Wood and Rivera, the Mustangs got nine points and three boards from Fedigan. Junior center Katie Morvan (Northbridge, MA/Northbridge) added five points and seven rebounds also adding three apiece for steals and assists. Sophomore forward Kayla Musty (Oxford, MA/Oxford) chipped in six points and two steals respectively.
The Leopards saw strong play from Biggar who added a team high 23 points and three rebounds while Vallone was also impressive recording a double-double adding 17 points and 13 caroms.
The Mustangs are back in action this coming Tuesday when they host non-conference UMASS-Boston with tip-off slated for 6:00 p.m.