Wednesday, January 18, 2012 (Newton, Massachusetts) - Behind a 17 point performance from senior captain Shannon Wood (Gorham, ME/Catherine McAuley/Bryant University), the Mount Ida College women's basketball team snapped a two game skid in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action Wednesday evening snatching a double overtime victory over neighboring rival and visitor Lasell College winning 65-59 in dramatic fashion.
The Mustangs held a commanding game-high 13 point lead with 14 minutes to go in the second half only to see the advantage dwindle away late in the stanza after poor shooting from the charity stripe sending the game into extra periods. After a stagnant first OT, Mount Ida sunk three consecutive baskets through the final ticks along with solid offensive rebounding to solidify the victory.
The hosts improve to an overall record of 9-7 with a 3-2 league standing while the visitors continue their woes falling to 1-15 for the year, 1-4 in GNAC action.
Along with a solid performance from Wood who also added six steals, Mount Ida junior transfer Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, CT/Bulkeley/Gold-Beacom College) added 16 points going 8-12 from the line along with four assists. Senior center Katie Morvan (Northbridge, MA/Northbridge) struggled offensively in the first half but rebounded in the final overtime sinking two crucial buckets that led to the win with nine points. Senior guard Jeileen Rivera (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) was huge under the basket careening 11 rebounds, seven of which were offensive, including three at the final frame.
The Lasers were led by freshman Danielle Autencio (Montville, CT/Montville) notching a game high 18 points and 12 caroms for the only double-double of the evening. Freshman Alexis Chappell (Springfield, MA/SABIS Int. Charter) tallied 13 points, eight boards, and six assists respectively. Sophomore Kayla Vincelette (Westport, MA/Westport) and freshman Taevasha Rentas (Springfield, MA/Springfield SABIS Int. Charter) added eight points a piece.
For the bulk of the first half of play the game remained separated by no more than a basket featuring five lead changes with the contest knotting five times as well. The Mustangs would head into the break with a 23-19 lead.
The teams would exchange buckets through the opening of the first stanza with Mount Ida pulling ahead by a game-high 13 points with less than 14 minutes to go in the game following a trifecta by freshman guard Allison O'Connor (Leominster, MA/Leominster) up 38-25.
After stagnant play for the next couple of ticks, the Lasers zipped through a 12-2 run eliminating the Mustang advantage pulling ahead by one following a good lay-in Chappell.
Mount Ida regained the lead with a minute and a half left in the second stanza up by a deuce (48-46) following a successful lay-in by Acosta.
A free throw a piece through the next minute kept the Mustang advantage at two points (49-47) with 20 ticks left on the clock. Chappell stalemated the contest with a good lay-in at 49-49 giving the hosts one final chance. Mount Ida found a long open look at the top of the key for Fedigan who rimmed her attempt out sending the game into extra periods.
Neither team stepped up to the challenge of winning the contest in the first overtime period exchanging baskets eventually knotting at 52-52 sending the game into a second OT frame.
Solid shooting from the stripe by Wood along with two successful jumpers by Morvan proved to be the icing on the victory for the Mustangs capturing their third GNAC win by a score of 65-59.
Although the Mustangs were outshot percentage wise from all over the floor for the night, 26 Laser turnovers along with 32 offensive rebounds from Mount Ida was the important statistical categories that led to the outcome.
Mount Ida will travel to GNAC member Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire Saturday afternoon with game-time slated for 3:00 p.m.